CINCINNATI — Cintas Corp. reports that it has partnered with Know Hope, a locally based non-profit organization that helps impoverished individuals in third-world countries, in an effort to reduce textile waste.
The charity will sell reusable burlap bags that are lined with leftover material from Cintas’ uniform production process. Proceeds will benefit families in Mexico, Africa, Haiti and Guatemala.
“When I started Know Hope, I had no money to invest, so I had to make it happen one bag sale at a time,” says Connie Baker, founder of Know Hope. “The textile donations from Cintas are going to allow us to produce a steady supply of bags and make a big impact on families who are less fortunate.”
In the past, Know Hope has built an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico, and made improvements to an orphanage in Guatemala. The organization has also provided breakfast programs for Lo Mejor del Trigo ministry in Tijuana and supplied food packs for citizens in Africa and Haiti. Blankets have also been supplied for people in shanty towns of Tijuana. Cintas’ most recent donation of material will help fund Know Hope’s Orphan Adoption Grant through Show Hope.
“The average U.S. citizen throws away 70 pounds of textiles each year, but corporations also have a responsibility to help divert this waste from landfills,” says Melanie Boyle, manager of sustainability at Cintas. “This partnership is a win-win because we’re supporting a local non-profit in their mission to make the world a better place, while maintaining Cintas’ commitment to both sustainability and being a good corporate citizen in the communities in which we do business.”
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