Rachael Bray's passion for recycling started early in her life when she was a Girl Scout. Her troop recycled paper as a fundraiser. When she moved to Colorado 8 years ago from California, where recycling is mandatory, Rachael was disturbed to listen each week to all the tin and glass being dumped out of her apartment complex's dumpster into the trash truck. This spurred her to get involved in supporting Eco-Cycle's efforts at recycling.

Bray serves as a block leader for her neighborhood, distributing Eco-Cycle's bi-annual newspaper, the Eco-Times, helps educate her neighbors about recycling, and helps at Zero Waste community events such as the Boulder Farmer's Market. At these events, Eco-Cycle volunteers staff bins to make sure waste is being deposited in the correct bin and to educate the community on the importance of recycling.

She is also an avid volunteer in other areas such as trail maintenance and seed collection. About her efforts Bray says, "I enjoy helping the community and the environment. I like to help maintain what I enjoy and want to do my part to keep our world sustainable." Bray also finds her volunteer work a good way to meet others who share her passions.

Says her Eco-Cycle volunteer coordinator, "Rachel is the kind of volunteer that every volunteer coordinator dreams of: she goes the distance and will help with any task, always with a cheerful word and calm presence."

For information about volunteering with Eco-Cycle or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.