Why did you start this organization?

I am actually in an organization called FCCLA which is in the school. It’s for Family Consumer Sciences; it stands for Family Career Community Leaders of America. They actually have a competitive event. Last year, I competed in an event called “Recycle and Redesign”, and I decided to make a dress out of bread tags. I got my idea when I was at Five Guys and at Five Guys they have all these plastic tiny squares on the end of the bread behind the counter. That sparked my idea for the dress. For my dress, I used about 5,000 bread tags and I had about 30,000 bread tags left over, so that’s when I researched what I can do.

How did you get started?

I found a place in South Africa called, “Bread Tags for Wheelchairs”, and this was started by an eighty-year-old woman. She took the bread tags to a recycling plant, and in exchange, we get proceeds which then go to buy people wheelchairs. So, then I contacted her, and I asked her if I should start my own non-profit in the United States. She said I would be the only one who would do this.

What have you accomplished so far?

I have accomplished a lot. Right now, I have over 100,000 bread tags. It’s kind of been just me. I have a lot of the elementary schools involved, and they have a little raffle. So, per 10 bread tags (they donate) they get a raffle ticket;  the winner will get a five-foot teddy bear with a “Danielle Cares for Chairs” shirt. As I call it, “Chair Bear” for the little kids. I’ve had a lot of success in a short time frame. My biggest event is going to be in March; I’ll be creating the world record for the world’s longest bread tag chain. I’ll actually be creating it and I’ll be giving out my first mobility chair.

What do you hope for the future of your organization?

I really hope to promote my message; I want to teach people about sustainability and how they can help the environment (and) help others out. I want to teach kids about this and I want to let them know that you can help others out, you don’t need to be an adult. I just want to make sure all my events are successful; I  want people to know who I am.