Around the House Missions
What is junk to you is useful to others.
“Give, and it will be given to you.” Luke 6:38
Bread Bag Tags
- Danielle Cares for Chairs is charity that collects and recycles plastic bread tags for funds to purchase wheelchairs for those in need.
- Bread tags are too small to be effectively recycled curbside.
- It takes about 260,000 bread tags to purchase a basic wheelchair – every bread tag counts!
- Help someone in need receive a wheelchair & keep more plastic from entering our landfills.
Ways you can help
- Donate tags: Collect plastic tags from bread, vegetables and fruit bags.
- Spread the word: Tell others about Dannielle Cares for Chairs. Ask friends and family to collect plastic tags with you. Ask your favorite restaurants to save them for you as well.
- Pray for this ministry
Glasses, Hearing Aids, Cords, Keys, Key Fobs and Phones
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In 1925, Helen Keller challenged the Lions Club to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.” They accepted.
Today, sight programs remain one of their defining causes. Donate used prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, hearing aids, keys, key fobs, cell phones and electrical cords/wires to help them support their missions.
Greeting Cards
Companions Journeying Together (CJT) provides a forum to personally impact the emotional, spiritual and social lives of the incarcerated and their families. Our vision is for a society that lives by the principles of restorative justice.
CJT sends birthday, Mother’s Day, thinking of you and Christmas cards to imprisoned people. The cards may be given to the inmates to encourage and cheer them (signed or with words of encouragement) or blank cards, unsigned cards or stationery may be given to the inmates so that they can stay in touch with their families.
- Only PLAIN cards are allowed.
- Musical cards; cards that have multiple layers; and cards with glitter, tape, glued items, stickers, other substances or added decorations are NOT allowed.
- Each card must be inside a plain envelope that is NOT sealed.
- Messages should be friendly, NOT “preachy.” (Cards are available from Rose P for those who’d like to write messages. Sample messages are available in the CJT box on the mission table.)
- Messages on cards can be signed with donor’s first name only or Member / Friend of the United Protestant Church.
- Crayons or markers cannot be used.
Holidays away from loved one are hard. Birthdays can come and go without acknowledgement. Imagine a Mother’s Day when a mother can’t hold her child. Or perhaps Christmas when one is struggling to find the joy and celebration.
Ways you can help
- Donate inscribed cards to be sent to the inmates to cheer and encourage them.
- Donate blank or unsigned cards or stationery so that the inmates can keep in touch with their family.
- Donate blank or unsigned cards so that other UPC members can write an encouraging message to send. (When sending blank cards be sure to indicate your intended use – UPC member usage or sent blank to inmates. Unmarked cards will go to the inmates.)
- Donate reams of colored paper on which to print an insert letter
- Donate Postage stamps
- Donate Gallon Ziplock or paper lunch bags
- Spread the word: Tell others about Companions Journeying Together.
- Pray for this ministry
Plastic Caps and Lids
Green Tree Plastics – ABC Promise Partnership mission is CLOSED.
UPC is no longer collecting caps and lids as the facility where they were recycled into benches and tables is closing. The owners have decided to retire. Thank you to all who have participated in the past.
Pop Top Tabs
Our mission is to keep families together and promote the health and well-being of children.
We offer a place to call home at little or no cost, so families can stay together.
The House is more than just a place to stay. We offer families therapeutic programming, a comprehensive meal program, comfortable community spaces and so much more. No one is ever turned away for their inability to pay.
Since 2000, recycling the little aluminum tabs from soda cans, soup cans and tennis ball canisters has generated nearly $400,000 for Ronald McDonald House®.
Ways you can help
- Donate tabs: Collect and donate top tabs.
- Spread the word: Tell others about Ronald McDonald House. Ask friends and family to collect pop top tabs with you.
- Pray for this ministry
Printer Cartridges
Bring in your used ink jet or laser jet cartridges and when we recycle them, UPC earns money towards INK180’s fight against human trafficking.
Ways you can help
- Donate tabs: ink jet or laser jet cartridges.
- Spread the word: Tell others about INK180 and their fight against human trafficking.
- Ask friends and family to collect ink jet or laser jet carteridges with you.
- Pray for this ministry
The following programs are recycling based to help us fulfill our commitment to care for the earth. All of these items will go in the bin marked Terracycle. Please be sure all items are empty & dry. If you have any questions, see Cinda.
Arm & Hammer (TM) and Oxiclean (TM) plastic pouches
- Arm & Hammer (TM) Baking Soda pouches
- Arm & Hammer (TM) Power Paks Laundry Detergent pouches
- Oxiclean (TM) Laundry Detergent Paks pouches
- Oxiclean (TM) 2 in 1 Stain fighter Power Paks pouches
- Oxiclean (TM) White Revive Laundry Stain Remover Power Paks pouches
Bimbo Bakery Program
All Bimbo Bakeries USA bread, buns, bagels, and English muffins bags.
NOTE: Please remove stickers, adhesives and crumbs from your Bimbo Bakeries USA bread and bakery bags
The following are Bimbo Bakery brands:
- Thomas, Sara Lee, Arnold, Brownberry, Oroweat, Entemann’s, Ball Park, Bay’s, Marinela, Bimbo, Maier’s, Beefsteak, Boboli, Mrs. Baird’s, Freihofer’s, Heiner’s, Grandma Sycamore’s Home Maid Bread, Tia Rosa, Stroehmann, Nature’s Harvest and Sanissimo.
Calphalon® Cooking Tools Recycling Program – any brands
All brands of metal-based* cookware, bakeware, and cutlery (*Nonstick Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Carbon Steel, Cast Iron).
Dial® Recycling Program
- Dial® Caps: The caps on Dial® body washes and hand soap refills.
- Dial® Pumps: The pumps on Dial® hand soaps and body washes.
- Dial® Concentrated Refill Packets: The packets from Dial® concentrated refill items.
- Dial® Bar Packaging: The exterior plastic wrap from Dial® bar soap and the interior waxed bar soap wrapping from Dial® bar soap
Drink Pouch Recycling® – any brands
1. Aluminum and plastic drink pouches (no need to remove the straws)
2. Drink pouches with spouts
Be sure the pouches are empty of all liquid.
Dunkin’® Coffee Bag Recycling Program
All Dunkin’ branded flexible ground and whole bean coffee bags.
Gatorade Beyond the Bounds Recycling Program
Gatorade® / G Endurance® Muscle Milk® Protein Bar Wrappers
- Gatorade Gx® Pods EVOLVE® Protein Bar Wrappers
- G Endurance Energy Gel Pouches and Carb Energy Chew Wrappers Propel® Powder Sticks/Sachets
- Gatorade, Gatorade Zero, G2, G Endurance Powder Sticks/Sachets NOTE: This program does not accept single use plastic bottles.
- Gatorade Protein Bar Wrappers
- Gatorade Prime® Sports Fuel Drink Pouches and Energy Chew Wrappers
Gerber® Recycling Program
Gerber baby food packaging, such as
- flexible or rigid plastic packaging
- shrink labels, plastic containers
- plastic lids
- flexible plastic pouches
- small and large hook Gerber baby clothing hangers
Be sure that all containers are empty.
GoGo squeeZ® Recycling Program
Recycle all healthy snack plastic pouches and caps.
Note: Please make sure all excess product has been removed (i.e. leftover applesauce). Additionally, if you choose to rinse your product, please note that it must be completely dry.
Hasbro Toy Recycling Program
If you have games or toys at home that are missing pieces or are just too worn to give to charity, here is a better solution than dumping them in a landfill. Recycle all Hasbro toys and games, including: board games, electronic toys & games, metal/plastic/wood toys & games, action figures, dolls, plush toys, etc. right here at UPC.
Check the collection bin for a list of popular Hasbro brands, if you are unsure.
Not accepted are:
- Juvenile Products (e.g., playpens, car seats, high chairs, swings, bouncy seats, etc.)
- Ride-On Products (e.g., bicycles, tricycles, scooters, skateboards, etc.)
Spin Master Recycling Program
If you have games or toys at home that are missing pieces or are just too worn to give to charity, here is a better solution than dumping them in a landfill. Recycle Spin Master toys and games (except Kinetic Sand and Orbeez) at UPC.
Aerobie Air Hogs B*Pack Bakugan
Batman Cool Maker DC Universe Dragons Rescue Riders
Dreamworks Dragons Etch a Sketch Gabby’s Dollhouse Gund
Hatchimals inkFLUENCER League of Legends Mecano
Mermaid High Monster Jam Lushes Pets Paw Patrol
Peek-a-Roo Present Pets Purse Pets Spin Master Games
Supercross Twisty Pets Wizarding World: Harry Potter Zoobles
Swiffer® Recycling Program
Program accepted items:
1. Sweeper™ Dry Refills
2. Sweeper™ Wet Refills
3. Sweeper™ XL Refills
4. WetJet™ Refills
5. Duster™ Refills
Note: Items must be completely dry and in a plastic grocery bag.
Takis® Snacks Recycling Program
Program accepts flexible plastic bags and canisters from:
Takis® Snacks, Takis® Rolled Tortilla Chips, Takis® STIX™, Takis® POP!, Takis® Waves, Takis® Kettlez and Takis® Crisps .
Note: Please remove as much of the remaining product (i.e. crumbs) as possible.

Tide Recycling® – limited brands
Fabric care products and packaging from Tide, Gain, Downy, NBD & Dreft brands.
- Bags
- Nozzles
- Nozzle clips
- Dispensing cups
- Plastic packaging wraps
- Flexible plastic bags
- Tide To Go pens
- Rigid plastic tubs and lids
Tom’s of Maine Natural Care Recycling® – any brands
1. Mouthwash bottles and caps
2. Deodorant containers and caps
3. Toothpaste tubes and caps
4. Soap packaging
5. Floss containers
6. Toothbrushes
Ways you can help:
1. Participate in one of the missions or TerraCycle programs listed above
2. Spread the word! Get others to save these items too.
3. Pray for these ministries