Some people may think that being “green” is only a lifestyle that can help create a cleaner environment. However, companies such as The Green Fundraiser Store are creating internships based on being “green.”

As an education, awareness and advocacy organization, The Green Fundraiser Store focuses on the importance of better recycling practices.

“Our goal is to create awareness and education on how to be more efficient recyclers by providing tools that will aid in the reduction of common household hazards from the waste stream,” according to the company’s website.

On their website,  there are eco-friendly products and methods, educational components, Keep it Simple and Sustainable campaigns and a full selection of eco-friendly products.

Visitors can shop by category through a list of ‘“green” products. The website offers everything from environmentally friendly cleaning products, to compostable food containers to at home recycling systems.

The organization also promotes fundraisers that support schools,communities and civic groups through the sales of eco-friendly products.

Based out of Oxford, Mich., the company has already worked locally with Michigan Green Schools of Oakland County, the Oak Green Challenge and the Oakland County Fair.

“We have had what I think is a pretty amazing ‘global’ out reach with all we have done really right here in the Detroit area,” Don Sherman, founder of The Green Fundraiser Store, said. “I am perplexed with a 56 percent visitation rate from China.”

Sherman will be at Oakland University on Wednesday, Feb. 8 for an internship mixer for the website. He will be seeking interns for various positions for the company.

“We have 52 employers coming to campus not to hire, but looking for interns … we are hoping to get a lot of students to take advantage of this event,” Arline Sheffer, career services office assistant, said.

One internship position the company will offer is for green advocates. The interns’ duties will combine “green” knowledge with networking.

“(Green advocate interns) are speaking freely about the mission and vision of our goal of ‘green shifts’ we can make in the course of daily living,” Sherman said. “Plus being convincing and willing to connect us with organizations that will allow us to present to their constituents. That might be kids in a classroom or employees in a small business who are interested in ‘greening the office’.”

“The one most impactful thing that has come along in a while was the introduction of the internship program at OU,” Sherman said. “I attended a meeting in late 2011 that introduced the new vision of connecting the talent pool (student interns) to the business who need the talent.”

Sherman credits the OU INCubator for providing business resources and information.

“(The OU INCubator) really opened my eyes on alternative ways to grow your business plan,” Sherman said.

The OU INCubator, which is located in the Shotwell-Gustafson Pavilion near Meadow Brook Hall, provides various resources and solutions for businesses and their growth.

Since the company is in its startup stages, it is uncertain whether or not the internship positions could lead to full-time positions.

“The biggest challenge as a startup is pretty much what most of us face. Limited resources (and) massive amounts of work to be done,” Sherman said.

For more information and to shop “green” visit www.greenfundraiserstore.com

 

Contact staff intern Natalie Popovski via email at [email protected]