Encouraging Signs from the Soda Stand

Here is another great story I have been telling friends and co-workers about VirginFest in Baltimore last weekend…

For context, it’s important to note here that the GreenDimes tent was optimally positioned across from a beverage stand all weekend. There were a few reasons we were SO glad to have this spot. The first- have I mentioned how HOT it was? Ok, yes, I have but I still can’t get over it. And beyond the obvious conveniences this afforded us in the heat, the next reason we were so happy to have the drink tent so close had everything to do with the staff in it.

The racetrack had hired a handful of high school age kids for $100 a day to sell water, soda and lemonade. On the first day, Saturday, it seemed like they were having a great time doing it all day long. They were hanging out, chatting amongst each other (I’m sure they all had crushes on each other, but that’s neither here nor there) and interacting with the crowd in a way that would make any parent of a teenager proud. When our CEO walked over to get his own staff some cold water and left them a generous tip, they were absolutely thrilled. Beaming. Glistening with whatever excitement $20 extra bucks buys a teenager.

But something about them had changed by the time we visited them on Sunday. It didn’ t take us in the GreenDimes tent very long to sense a change in their excitable tone, a marked shift in their energy. These kids were bummed out. But why? We asked what was going on- weren’t they having fun today too??

They assured us that they were still having a good time, but they were noticing how many fewer tips they were getting on Sunday. Again, we asked why.

It seems that all of the public announcements the Virgin folks had made about reusing water bottles had taken hold. Nobody was buying water from these kids on Sunday.

But you should have seen the line of people waiting in 100 degree temps to refill their bottles. Just thinking of the moment I put this all together in my own head gives me chills. Something worked. Something in that crowd of 50,000 people had taken hold. People got it.

I tell you this story to encourage the idea that all of the small things we do and change in our own behavior does add up to make a difference. The kids from the beverage tent saw it. I saw it.

It was awesome.

Kendra

www.greendimes.com

Comments

[Tyler]

Wow, that is such a great thing to see!! My sister was up at the Virgin Fest, I'll have to ask her if she noticed the change on Sunday.