In the spring of 2024, Kathy McGowan and her two teenaged sons, Roan and Bo, launched a “little experiment,” in her words, that “seeks to enhance the amazing recycling programs that already exist on Bainbridge Island and address three specific needs: cost, convenience, awareness.”
Kathy is the former Sakai parent who spearheaded a months-long plastic film recycling drive that involved the entire community and resulted in Sakai Intermediate School placing first in its category in the national Trex Recycling Challenge.
Roan explains the BI Flashdrive program this way: “We recognize that not everybody can afford fee-based, at-home recycling pick-up programs, nor do they have the time to make recycling deliveries themselves.
“BI Flashdrive solves these problems by highlighting a different recycling program each month that is free and preferably local. The ‘flash’ will let you know what is being recycled and when the pick-up date is. On that day, put your items outside your front door, and BI Flashdrive will swing by and take them off your hands [for free]. Be sure to email biflashdrive@gmail.com beforehand and let us know that you have a pick-up.”
Sign up here to be on the list for flash notifications of what items will be picked up and on which date.
Check out their Instagram account to see what has been collected in past months.
CAN YOU BE A VOLUNTEER DRIVER?:
If you are available to help pick up items for Flashdrive collections, please let us know. We do our best to assign folks a limited number of convenient pick-up locations near their homes and to make the process as efficient and as easy as possible for them. The collection is once a month for a couple of hours max. The pick-up day varies from month to month. Once we get a sense of where the needs are, we will reach out. (We have been very fortunate and usually get more volunteer drivers than we need.) Thanks for considering!
SEPTEMBER 2026
WHEN: Saturday, September 19…pick-up rounds begin at 8:00 AM
WHAT: Only the cat and dog supplies listed below, new or gently used
- Sheets and Pillow Cases
> Can these be fitted? –yes
> Can they have embroidery? –yes
> Can they be frayed? –no
> Are bleach stains ok? —perfectly fine
- Towels
> Can they have embroidery? –yes
> Can they be frayed? –no
> Are bleach stains ok? —perfectly fine
> Can the towels be any size? –yes
- Blankets
> Are baby blankets ok? –yes
- Stainless steel food bowls
- Animal caging
> Crates? –yes
> Carriers –PLASTIC only
> Baby gates? -yes
WHO: The Kitsap Humane Society
Sheltering and rehabilitating animals since 1908, they provide all sorts of services – including some that were new to us:
– They help folks find free or low-cost pet support – like veterinary care or boarding, which any pet owner knows can cost a fortune.
– Their Barks and Rec Volunteer Program lets you give a dog a break from the shelter and take them for an outing. Swimming. Park walks. Even kids can help with an adult present. It’s a great way to enrich the dogs’ lives and to help the shelter learn how the animals respond to environments other than the shelter.
– They do not work in a silo and instead are committed to partnering with other community programs like BI Flashdrive. Like us, they really want to make our community stronger by weaving together well-fortified social networks.
Please check them out – you’re gonna love them more than you already do: https://www.kitsap-humane.org
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO:
If you have items to donate, just shoot us an email at biflashdrive@gmail.com. Please let us know your pick-up location (we ask every time to stay current) and have your items ready by SATURDAY September 19 @ 8:00 AM
CAN YOU VOLUNTEER DRIVE?
Please email us!
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COMING UP IN OCTOBER: Peaceful Morning Farm
T-posts, Gallon Buckets, Large Wheelbarrows & Gardening Carts, Tarps