https://ift.tt/34kRMIA <p class="intro">Tucker Grooms, a high school
student in Marin County, California, found that he was constantly
picking up litter while surfing on the beach. In September 2018, he
launched a nonprofit, Barrel Bag, which manufactures and distributes
eco-friendly and reusable <a
href="https://barrelbag.org/our-mission/">mesh bags</a> that make it
easier for people to pick up trash while exploring the coastline. His
WordPress website, <a href="https://barrelbag.org/">BarrelBag.org</a>,
has become the online hub of the organization.</p>
<hr />
<p>[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OavwWcxc_k&w=685&h=386]</p>
<p>Each year, about <a
href="https://www.earthday.org/2018/04/05/fact-sheet-plastics-in-the-ocean/">8
million metric tons of plastic</a> end up in the ocean. “The
problem of plastic pollution in the ocean is enormous,” says
Tucker. “It only takes a single person to have an impact, which
is exactly why I started Barrel Bag.” Since its launch last
year, Barrel Bag has distributed over 6,250 bags, and continues to
expand by partnering with socially minded organizations across
California and beyond, including local chambers of commerce, regional
tourism associations, and nonprofits like <a
href="https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/">1% for the
Planet</a>.</p>
<p>The 18-year-old’s leadership has also built awareness among
his peers, mobilizing youth in his community to get involved.
“Running Barrel Bag and always picking up plastic around my
friends at the beach has certainly been a contagious act,” he
says. “Once I explained to my peers the magnitude of the issue
of plastic pollution, they seemed to be much more aware of it, and
I’ve observed them consciously going out of their way to pick up
after someone else or be responsible about their own trash.”
</p>
<p>His alma mater, Marin Academy, has implemented Barrel Bag into
their service projects, allowing him to make a mark at the high school
for years to come. Now a first-year business student at the University
of Wisconsin–Madison, Tucker is applying all he’s learning to
his organization back home to keep things running smoothly.</p>
<figure id="attachment_39373"
aria-describedby="caption-attachment-39373" style="width:695px;"
class="wp-caption aligncenter fullbleed"><img class="size-large
wp-image-39373"
src="https://discover.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/wordpress-qurik-creative-drew-bird-094.jpg?w=685&h=457"
alt="" width="685" height="457" /><figcaption
id="caption-attachment-39373" class="wp-caption-text">Tucker with
beach clean-up volunteers on Stinson Beach, CA. Photo by <a
href="https://www.drewbirdphoto.com/">Drew Bird
Photo</a>.</figcaption></figure>
<hr />
<blockquote class="pullquote center"><p><span
style="font-weight:400;">It's basically the heart of our business.
WordPress enabled me to really spread the word about Barrel Bag, and
that's where probably 90 percent of our business comes
through.</span></p></blockquote>
<hr />
<figure id="attachment_39374"
aria-describedby="caption-attachment-39374" style="width:350px;"
class="wp-caption alignright"><img class=" wp-image-39374"
src="https://discover.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/wordpress-qurik-creative-drew-bird-110.jpg?w=350&h=526"
alt="" width="350" height="526" /><figcaption
id="caption-attachment-39374" class="wp-caption-text">Tucker tinkering
with his website. Photo by <a
href="https://www.drewbirdphoto.com/">Drew Bird
Photo</a>.</figcaption></figure>
<p>When it came to setting up a website, the functionality of
WordPress was appealing, as was the ability to grow. “<span
style="font-weight:400;">I really don't think Barrel Bag would be
where it is today without a solid website to support it</span>,”
says Tucker. Today, BarrelBag.org is the nerve center for all of the
nonprofit’s operations, from its <a
href="https://barrelbag.org/partnerships/">partnerships page,</a>
where companies dedicated to corporate social responsibility can
inquire about co-branded Barrel Bags through a <a
href="https://en.support.wordpress.com/wordpress-editor/blocks/form-block/">contact
form</a>, to its <a
href="https://barrelbag.org/product/beach-cleanup-bag/">online
store</a> — powered by <a
href="https://woocommerce.com/">WooCommerce</a> — where anyone
interested in making a difference can buy a bag.</p>
<blockquote class="sidenote left"><p>If you have a paid WordPress.com
plan, take advantage of the <a
href="https://en.support.wordpress.com/wordpress-editor/blocks/simple-payments-block/">Simple
Payments</a> or <a
href="https://en.support.wordpress.com/recurring-payments-button/">Recurring
Payments</a> buttons to collect your own donations.</p></blockquote>
<p>Other essential features have helped spread the message and mission
of Barrel Bag, including embedded YouTube videos on the homepage and a
<a href="https://href.li/?https://barrelbag.org/donate/">donate
page</a> to collect contributions from fans and followers.</p>
<p>In the next year, Barrel Bag hopes to triple their current
distribution count. With more partnerships on the horizon and bags
currently distributed across the United States, as well as in places
like Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and Germany, Tucker continues to
march toward his goal. The <a
href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/barrelbaghaul/">#barrelbaghaul</a>
hashtag on Instagram shows a growing grassroots movement of people
with bags doing their part while on the beach. “<span
style="font-weight:400;">It's really important because it shows me
that they also are using it out at the beaches and they're following
through it. They're having their impact on the environment as
well.” </span></p>
<p>Tucker’s ultimate goal? To distribute one million Barrel Bags
to beachgoers around the world. Given the progress Tucker has made in
just a year, we’re eager to see what 2020 will bring. “The
way I see it, it’s our planet that we kids are going to have to
grow up in, so the best we can do is look after it.”</p>
<hr />
<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Inspired by Tucker’s
story? Upgrade to a paid plan today to make the business or
organization website you’ve always wanted.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a class="button is-primary"
href="https://wordpress.com/pricing/?utm_source=editorial&utm_medium=discover&utm_campaign=barrel-bag-tucker-grooms&utm_term=business&utm_content=post_signoff_button"
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<a href="https://discover.wordpress.com/2019/11/21/barrel-bag-tucker-grooms/"
target="_blank" rel="follow">Meer over Cheri Lucas Rowlands</a>
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