Our Project Porchlight St. Albert campaign wrapped last Friday, June 27th. It was a huge success. We received a fantastic response from the entire city, and delivered thousands of free light bulbs. The campaign wouldn’t have worked without the countless volunteers who pitched in their time and energy. But we also want to give a shout out to our dedicated staff members, both on the national team and on the ground locally in St. Albert. After the campaign wrapped, we received a touching email from one of our local delivery staff members, Lorenzo Pagnotta. Here’s what he had to say: “When I was 11 years old I started my first job: a paper route throughout my neighbourhood. It was rather exciting to earn money at such a young age. But money had little relevance for me then. What I remember most is enjoying the fresh air, talking with neighbours and admiring the beautiful gardens during the summer. “As I got older, many other things occupied my time. Somewhere in my first years of university I realized that life’s stresses had brought my spirits down, and so I began to immerse myself in extracurricular activities. I also learned the importance of dedicating myself to my environment and acting with compassion towards the people, as well as the things, around me. In an age where we forget to think about each other, it is no wonder that we have forgotten to think about our environment. “Twelve years later, I found myself once again walking throughout my neighbourhood, meeting people and spreading knowledge, this time as a delivery staff member for One Change’s Project Porchlight campaign in St. Albert, Alberta. The work has been thrilling! Edmonton’s sister city is small, but it doesn’t have a small-town mentality at all; it’s bursting at the boundaries with excited, enthusiastic citizens eager to learn and try new things. Not only are the communities very diverse, but one crescent can feel completely different from the next. Every neighbourhood in St. Albert sparks a different déjà-vu for me and that helps me keep moving along with the beautiful sunshine that has shone for most of June. “Social promotion is never easy in the 21st century. Individuals think like individuals. They can be cynical about third parties, and are sometimes hesitant to talk because they’re wary of a sales pitch or other ulterior motive. With Project Porchlight, our only wish is to educate and inspire people to make small changes in their energy habits, starting with the one CFL light bulb which we provide. “Thankfully, the response in St. Albert has been 99% positive. I love seeing people’s faces break out into a giant smile when I tell them they’re getting the bulb for free! I like telling them where they can use their new bulb, and checking to see if they have questions. “Perhaps the most inspiring part for me is the high number of people in St. Albert had already converted to CFLs, or are in the process of doing so as their incandescent bulbs burn out. The people I spoke with showed outstanding respect, knowledge and integrity. They should be commended for their efforts. How exciting to think that Project Porchlight is taking these numbers to even higher levels! I know I’ve traded all my incandescent bulbs for CFLs.”
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