From Shelter to Stability
Lori Schmiege: Taking Delight in Saving the Planet
March 2011
A large comfortable chair with a red cushion is located adjacent to her desk where she conducts meetings and smiles at everyone passing by. This is AmeriCorps member, Lori Schmiege, who is much like the space in which she works, open and available to assist all, in any way she can. Not only does she have a heart for service at CARITAS, she also has a passion for our planet- one can, one piece of paper or one mattress at a time. “In 1984 I took my newspapers to be recycled and earned 75 cents recycling, while I was at UNC-Greensboro,” said Schmiege, 47, who has been with CARITAS for over a year and half and spoke about her first memorable experience recycling.
The green box designated "recyclables" located in the copy room is filled with paper already printed on one side and now is available to be used be again. A tall stainless steel trash can with a flip top, located in an obscure place in the kitchen area has a small sign above it stating, place recycles here. Thanks to Lori, these recycling efforts are in place and the CARITAS team is responding enthusiastically.
The higher tone in her voice when she spoke and her almost blushing face revealed the pride and joy she has about what this organization is doing to be a part of the use, reuse and recycle movement. “First we recycle all furniture coming out of peoples homes and give it a new home, that is number one; then we collect and treat mattresses that would take up a lot of space in landfills and also give them to people who need them. Lastly, we build and modify furniture for our clients' needs. For example we can take an awkward desk system used by the military and make it into a wardrobe which is much more useful to our clients. Cardboard boxes are not broken down, we use them for our dish packs- which includes plates, bowls, glasses, silverware and cups for a family of four,” she asserted with a broad smile.
While Lori encourages the CARITAS team to take turns carrying home recyclables here in this office, it’s not surprising she practices this same way of life at home. This includes hanging her laundry on a clothesline, making compost and sorting trash from recycles just to name a few. In addition, Lori states she is very aware of packaging when she makes her purchases. “It’s the right thing to do for our mother earth. I just see it as win-win.” she said.
Often, you can find Lori, working side by side at the computer with a client, from helping with the final touches of a resume or just showing them how to navigate the internet, she has become an invaluable resource. However, Lori does not always sit behind a desk, as her title indicates- she is in charge of community engagement and special projects. She is always speaking with community organizations about CARITAS. “Spreading the word to people outside of the nonprofit world, informing small businesses of our programs and sharing ideas with everyone that will listen to me in order to increase awareness of the CARITAS umbrella, ” said Lori.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed as she received an award from CARITAS this February for her passion, commitment and exhibiting the core values of CARITAS. One could say that Lori does things not because she has to, but because she feels it’s the right thing to do, whether it’s caring for our environment or taking a Hersey bar to a coworker in the hospital, that’s Lori! “People are motivated, have kind hearts, and have the willingness to help just about everybody that comes through the door and that works with my personal philosophy,” she said of CARITAS.