Cat Category: Judy H. from San Francisco, CA
Environment Category: Terri G. from North Las Vegas, NV
DO-GOODER WINNER PROFILE
MEET LISA D.
COLUMBUS, OH
QUICK Q&A
How do you try to make a difference each day?
A friend recently sent me an email that had a quote from Gandhi that said, "My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness". I love this quote and subscribe to it by practicing each day with an act of kindness.
What are some changes you are seeing in your community?
People are starting to be more self-aware of the role they play in the environment. They may not all be changing their habits yet, but being self-aware is the beginning to change. I'm hearing a lot more about the importance of community and knowing your neighbors. People are no longer living in silos, but are starting to realize that we all could use a little help from time to time and that working together towards a goal is far easier than working alone.
What is your cat's name and how did you find each other?
My cat's name is Matisse and she found me when she was 5 weeks old. My dog actually pointed her out to me. She was sitting in my flower garden, under a bird feeder, very intent on finding dinner. My dog and her have grown to be the best of friends!
CONTEST ENTRY
GREEN INITIATIVES IN ACTION
The things I do are simple enough for anyone to do, with a minimal amount of time. When I moved into my new home this past spring, I took the opportunity to develop new habits. These include: I purchased a backyard compositor - this has cut my garbage that is sent to the landfill by almost 50%! I purchased a recycling container for paper and plastic. I located the closest recycling drop-off location and make sure to drop my recyclables off a few times a month, when my container gets full. This has lowered my landfill amount even more! I take some of the newspapers to the local Ohio Wildlife Center, who use the papers in the crates of the orphaned and injured animals that they rehabilitate. My neighbors and I are working on a community plan for recycling. We are hoping to get a company to pick-up our recyclables rather than having to drop them off. I participated in a rain barrel workshop sponsored by local watershed organization (FLOW). I was able to purchase a rain barrel at a discounted price. The water I collect is used for my garden. I purchased a couple of recycled plastic bags instead of getting plastic bags at retails stores. I purchased biodegradable doggy poop bags and biodegradable bags for sandwiches, etc. No plastic! I re-use all bags for putting yesterday’s news cat litter in; this evening, I used a charcoal bag. No bag is thrown away empty at my house! I purchase biodegradable cleaning products – everything from laundry soap to window cleaner. I ran a clothes line in my backyard and hang my clothes out to dry. There’s nothing like the clean smell of sunshine!
BIO
Lisa hails from northeast Ohio and is a graduate of The Ohio State University. She is employed at the McGraw-Hill Companies as a project manager and is an animal activist. Lisa has been a volunteer at the Ohio Wildlife Center in Columbus, Ohio and is involved in several animal charity organizations. Her most recent focus has been on the welfare of farm animals and she is a proud owner of a herd share at a family farm in central Ohio. Her other love is nature, and she is a supporter of the Arc of Appalachia Preserve, which is dedicated to preserving the rich biodiversity of America's Eastern Temperate Forest. Her own backyard in Columbus is a diverse ecosystem in the making.
SELECTED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
CAT WELFARE ASSOCIATION
I consistently purchase the Cat Welfare Holiday Calendars for friends and families each year. When I drop in to purchase these, I'm always amazed at the amount of cats that are given second chances due to this organization. The work this one organization does is amazing. When I found out that I had won, I had a hard time deciding who should get the winnings, but Cat Welfare came up as the one that needed it most.
Location: Columbus, Ohio
catwelfareohio.com
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EVERYDAY DO-GOODER TIPS
Greening your business
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Greening Your Business by Trish Riley & Heather Gardonniex is a valuable book business owners should invest in— Submitted on November 09, 2009
