Big Pine Key – Residents & Visitors Campaign

PLEDGE STATIONS

FSB BPK branch-Velvet and Shirley-v2
First State Bank in Big Pine Key supports the Got Your Bags? campaign with a permanent pledge station.

Big Pine Key, FL – February 28, 2013 First State Bank of the Florida Keys, a GLEE Certified Green Business, has provided the use of their Big Pine Key branch, 30515 Overseas Hwy, as an official location for residents and visitors to sign their “Got Your Bags? Florida Keys” pledge.  In ‘taking the pledge’ to reduce plastic bag usage by shopping with reusable bags, in return they receive a complimentary reusable bag.  Bags are donated by First State Bank and Save-A-Turtle.

The Pledge Station opened February 14th.  Velvet Malloy, Teller and First State’s Big Pine Key Green Team Captain, coordinates the program.

 

Got Your Bags exhibit tent
Catch our exhibit at various events throughout the year in the Keys

Got Your Bags?’ – Florida Keys appears at various events throughout the year in the Lower Keys

 Look for our booth at:

November 16, 2014 – Key West Film Festival at Tropic Cinema, Eaton St, Key West .  The 2014 Festival runs November 12-16, 2014 in Key West. The Film Festival is partnering with GLEE and the Got Your Bags? Florida Keys group to  screen “No Impact Man”,  on Sunday November 16 at 12 noon at the Tropic Cinema, Eaton St, Key West. Admission is free.

In addition to the movie screening, GLEE and the Got Your Bags? Florida Keys group will have an information table at the Tropic Cinema to accompany the movie. During this time, all moviegoers will receive a complimentary reusable shopping bag courtesy of the Key West Film Festival.

December 20, 2014 –  Big Pine Key Winn Dixie hosts first Grocery Store event on Sat Dec 20th, 10am-2pm

Green Living and Energy Education (GLEE) volunteers will set up a “Got Your Bags? Florida Keys” (GYB) station outside the Winn-Dixie, and provide a free reusable shopping bag to anyone who signs a pledge to do their best to avoid using plastic bags when they shop. The reusable bags have been donated by local businesses and individuals who support the program.

BPK WD Signed Pledge with Ken
Big Pine Key Winn-Dixie Area Service Manager Dan Jensen, Store Director, Kenny Lowe and Got Your Bags? Florida Keys co-founder Ken Chopcinski at the Retailers Pledge signing by Winn Dixie

Winn-Dixie Big Pine Key has signed the Retailers Pledge and will contribute to the event by making its store brand reusable bags available in a BOGO  special for shoppers who want additional bags. All staff will wear the Got Your Bags? badge as part of their uniform.

Over 750 reusable bags made it into shoppers hands during this inaugural event.

Feb 7, 2015 – Big Pine Key Winn Dixie hosts second Grocery Store event on Sat Feb 7, 10am-2pm

Shopper outside WD
A shopper takes advantage of Winn Dixie’s BOGO special on store-brand bags during this event. He stocks up on bags for his shopping trips.

After a very successful inaugural Grocery Store event on Dec 20, 2014, Green Living and Energy Education (GLEE) volunteers ran  another  “Got Your Bags? Florida Keys” (GYB) pledge station outside the Winn-Dixie, store  and provided a free reusable shopping bag to anyone who signs a pledge to do their best to avoid using plastic bags when they shop. All bags were donated by businesses supporting the program.

Over 800 reusable bags reached  shoppers hands during this event

April 25, 2015 –  Big Pine Key Winn Dixie hosts final  Grocery Store event of the season on Sat Apr 25, 10am-2pm

The third and final Grocery Store event of the season was hosted by Big Pine Winn Dixie on Apr 25, 2015 10am-2pm.  Over 700 bags were placed in shoppers hands to encourage them to reduce their plastic bag usage.  Winn Dixie sponsored the event with a BOGO promotion on their reusable bags and welcomed the opportunity to engage with community again.

These shoppers took advantage of Winn Dixie's BOGO special on store-brand reusable bags to supplement their supply of bags. A GYB volunteer holds a Save-A-Turtle bag and a Capital Bank bag available for free to shoppers who pledged to 'skip the plastic bag'
These shoppers took advantage of Winn Dixie’s BOGO special on store-brand reusable bags to supplement their supply of bags. A GYB volunteer holds a Save-A-Turtle bag and a Capital Bank bag available for free to shoppers who pledged to ‘skip the plastic bag’

 

Read about us in the Southeastern Grocers Association newsletter as Winn Dixie helps promote our program : Winn Dixie Newsletter

More events in 2015.

We welcome residents and visitors to come and meet us at our table.  Anyone who pledges to reduce single-use plastic bags and use their reusable bags, will receive a free reusable bag and a cling-film car window reminder displaying the program’s “Got Your Bags?” logo.

Residents & visitors learn how to keep our oceans healthy & trash-free and some facts on Plastic Bag usage in the US.
Residents & visitors learn how to keep our oceans healthy & trash-free and some facts on Plastic Bag usage in the US.

July 11, 2015 – Environment Awareness Fair,  Looe Key Dive Resort, Ramrod Key.  Got Your Bags? reached out to residents and visitors at this fair to promote trash-free & healthy oceans by reducing marine debris & litter… starting off with reusable shopping bags.   Watch the video made by Looe Key Resort of the ‘Conservation Gathering’ and featuring Got Your Bags? in the opening scenes and at intervals throughout the first 3.5 minutes.

Bag Monsters make an impact during Key West Fantasy Fest.
Bag Monsters make an impact during Key West Fantasy Fest.

October 30, 2015 – Key West Fantasy Festival.   A group of 6 Bag Monsters invaded the Key West Fantasy Festival Masquerade March on Friday Oct 30th.  Throughout the evening, parade participants and viewers applauded them, shouted words of encouragement and supported their message to reduce plastic bag usage.

Bag Monsters remind people to use reusable bags
Bag Monsters remind people to use reusable bags

Participating Retailers

Participating retailers can also get the signature logo for their front door  plus a mention on the group’s webpage www.keysglee.com/gyb

Please come and meet us at any of the events above and learn more about the group.

 

GLEE’s “Got Your Bags? Florida Keys” program is dedicated to the reduction and voluntary elimination of single use plastic bags.  The campaign’s initial focus is in Big Pine Key, and is in the process of expanding throughout the Keys.

Florida Keys Green Living & Energy Education (GLEE)