How far can travel mugs really travel?
A Good Thing is all about finding good homes for items that are completely fine but, for whatever reason, don’t live up to the standard of their current homes. This is precisely what happened to a batch of misprinted travel cups, and they lived up to their name – they sure did travel.
Mistakes happen
Project Merchandise is a promotional merchandise provider on a mission to make merch more sustainable. The company “prioritises sustainable materials, ethical production practices, and responsible sourcing,” said Jeremy from Project Merchandise.
While printing logos on some travel mugs, something went wrong, and a few surface scratches were left on the exterior of the mugs. This rendered them unusable to the company, meaning they had to be discarded somehow. “The fault didn’t affect their functionality, so we wanted to find a way to put them to good use, and A Good Thing was the perfect answer,” commented Jeremey.
Down South
From Project Merchandise’s base in London, a charity in Cornwall answered the advert for these travel mugs. We spoke to the Building Manager and Volunteer Coordinator, Caroline, from The Merlin Neuro Therapy Centre, who told us a bit more about the charity. “[we are] a Cornish charity providing a place of support, therapy, information, and community for people living with a long-term neurological condition and/or those who are neurodiverse.”
Glass, china and other common cup materials are not allowed near the charity’s pool for safety reasons, so these travel mugs offer an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution. “We have issued cups to the therapy team to ensure they can have a hot drink without wasting paper cups,” Caroline said. “The donation will help with our aim to reduce waste, and as a small charity, we look at any way to save money we can. The cups are a lovely shape to hold as well.”
All the way up
The same batch of misprinted mugs also made their way to the other side of the UK, to Scotland, where the charity Home Start Aberdeen made great use of the donation.
“We help families with children under five years of age with resources and information, and generally to be the best parents they can be,” said Chief Executive Cameron. This includes home visits, help with mental health, social isolation, and training in healthy cooking.
Some of the mugs were given to volunteers doing home visits. “Aberdeen is cold and grey at the moment, so the mugs were a perk to help with their home visits, and means they can transport hot drinks safely around young kids.”
Many of the mugs were also given to volunteers in charity shops, who have been asking for closed-top containers as open ones aren’t allowed on the shop floor. “It’s only a little thing,” Cameron continued, “but it’s nice to deliver on promises and put a smile on people’s faces.”
A few families have also benefitted from the mugs; the rest will be given to new volunteers during their onboarding process.
A hot drink can make all the difference
From one side of the UK to the other, redundant items can make a difference in the lives of both people in need and the volunteers who help. Safety concerns can often limit a charity’s giving, and donations such as these can make a big difference in people’s lives. From pool safety in the deep south west to child protection in the north east, this donation has helped make countless people’s lives that bit warmer.
Feeling inspired to help a local charity? A Good Thing supports thousands of charities across the UK. There is one just around the corner waiting for your donation.