Reflection Essay: Claire Nord

What are the Consequences of Landfills and How is Turnip Green Creative Reuse Making an Impact?

Volunteering at Turnip Green Creative Reuse was an impactful experience and inspired me to care more about the environment I am living in and the people in my community. I was able to learn about the actions they are taking to promote a sustainable lifestyle in Nashville and how they support people in need through their partnerships with Southwest Airlines and Metro Nashville Public Schools. I originally had a hard time deciding where I wanted to complete my service project and wanted somewhere that combined my love for working with children and helping people and my passion for the environment. Once I discovered Turnip Green, I knew it was a perfect fit. While I did not volunteer with any children directly, I knew my efforts of organizing the store and helping with incoming donations were helping those in need. I did, however, get to see small acts Turnip Green does that help many different people. I have many stories that I could share about the amazing people I interacted with and saw while volunteering, but one stood out to me. One day when I was organizing tissue paper by color near the open studio, I saw a man walk in with a large backpack on. I overheard him ask one of the employees where he could find supplies to make a pillow. The woman he asked immediately stopped the work she was doing and offered to help him. She showed him the different fabrics in the area of the store called “Fabric Land” and allowed him to pick the one he wanted. Then, she grabbed stuffing and offered to sew it up for him. He was so excited when she offered to do this for him, and he jumped at the offer She worked for about twenty minutes in the open studio sewing the man’s pillow together carefully. The man walked around the Reuse Center and admired everything there while she was working. He walked by my table a couple of times while I was working on the tissue paper and smiled. Then, it was time for the big reveal, and the woman brought out a freshly sewn pillow. He stared at it for a few seconds admiringly and then thanked her repeatedly and said how that pillow was something he really needed. He left and the woman went back to what she was doing, but I was left in awe of this kind act and how Turnip Green is able to provide for people in need Most people do not have to think about needing a basic necessity like a pillow, but for this man, Turnip Green was able to help him with that necessity, while also being environmentally conscious. In conclusion, my work at Turnip Green Creative Reuse allowed me to see how much of an impact this non-profit organization is making in the Nashville community. Their accessibility to all types of people, helpful partnerships, kind and creative employees, and caring attitude toward the environment are just some of the endless reasons why Turnip Green is such an amazing organization and why I am immensely grateful for my time there.