What Inspires Us
Eight million tons of plastic and other trash is accumulating in our oceans every year. This trash is gathering in giant “garbage patches” (as pictured below). Right in our own neighborhoods, trash that litters our streets and public spaces is then washed into streams and rivers. The cigarette butts, bottles, plastic bags and other trash that we pass by every day is destined to enter the ocean.
Much of the trash in today’s world is highly durable, single-use plastic that litters our waterways and oceans. Over time, plastic pollution breaks down into small pieces of micro-plastic that are ingested by birds, fish, and other animals, including humans. Even in remote, elevated places, very tiny micro-plastics are deposited by rainwater; they are found in the deepest parts of the ocean; they are also in our blood streams.
Cleaning Up Our World
In response to this upsetting problem of plastic pollution, Common Street Spiritual Center is partnering with another non-profit, Keep Natick Beautiful, to mobilize volunteers to clean up the trash in Natick and other Metrowest communities. It gives us hope to get out there and pick up trash that could otherwise wash into the ocean.
Eva Bigonet, Team Leader of Cash4Trash 
The Keep Natick Beautiful van and trailer, loaded with trash.
Transforming Despair to Hope
The pieces of trash that we pass by are symbols of despair and apathy; but the pieces of trash that we clean up and properly dispose of become symbols of hope that our planet can be healed. The simple act of picking up trash is an expression of our hope that we can repair the damage that we have done to the planet so far, and that we can make the changes needed to prevent future harm, like banning the use of single-use plastics, polystyrene (Styrofoam), and other unnecessary and harmful products.
Volunteer and Work With Us
There are two ways to participate as a volunteer:
1. Volunteer at our Trash Pickup Event: On Saturday, June 13th we are mobilizing volunteers to pick up at least 500 lbs of trash from litter hot spots. We welcome your participation at our trash pick up event!
2. Join the Cash4Trash Team: Cash4Trash team members are taking on individual goals on top of the 500+ lbs of trash we are pledging to pick up in the trash pick up event on June 13th.
Eva Bigonet is pledging to pick up an additional 100 pounds of trash.
Pat Conaway is pledging to pick up an additional xx pounds of trash.
Ian Mevorach is pledging to pick up an additional 100 pounds of trash.
Laura Hake is pledging to pick up an additional 100 pounds of trash.
Richard Chute in pledging to pick up an additional 101 pounds of trash.
These team members are setting up personal fundraising pages and asking their networks for support; if enough people join the Cash4Trash Team, we aspire to pick up an additional 500 lbs of trash and reach a total of 1000 lbs or 1 ton of trash.
Cash4Trash volunteer sign up form
Sponsor and Support
If you believe that this work we’re doing is important, we want to ask for your financial support. Common Street Spiritual Center is a love-centered community building a love-centered world. Our project partner, Keep Natick Beautiful, is a non-profit that is dedicated to the vision of transforming Natick into a trash free community. Both of our organizations are in need of funding to support our missions.
Donate Today
Through this hopeful project, Cash4Trash, we are asking you to support our wider work in the world. Please make a donation today to support this work, by choosing to give a certain amount per pound of trash.
$25 is 5 cents per pound for 500+ pounds of trash
$50 is 10 cents per pound for 500+ pounds of trash
$125 is 25 cents per pound for 500+ pounds of trash
$250 is 50 cents per pound for 500+ pounds of trash
$500 is 1 dollar per pound for 500+ pounds of trash
You get the idea 🙂 Please give any amount that makes sense to you!