Chuck Trades It Forward (Original Post Date 12/30/07)

My original post on craigslist under the "Free" section on December 16, 2007 that read…

“Young entrepreneurial couple looking to “pay it forward” by donating a few hours to help someone in need this holiday season…Please email us with any ideas of how we could help you, your family, or a loved one. Have a very Merry Christmas!”

received an overwhelming response from both those in need and those willing to give; from those offering positive encouragement to the negative “nay-sayers”. Mandy and I continue to help as many as we can. (Update: We were able to provide services, presents and winter clothes for 5 families!)

After reading about how Kyle MacDonald “traded up” from a paperclip to a house in fourteen successive trades (read his story here), I have decided to do the exact same thing, trading my squirrel ornament, named Chuck, for something you have. I want to meet each person I trade and get the back-story on your traded object.(Update: Chuck's backstory...Mandy's mom gave me chuck Christmas of '06 - my first Christmas as "part" of the family - she welcomed me in, and loved me like her own. On October 15, 2008, Mandy's mom passed away from breast cancer. We now have a renewed purpose for chuck, we would love to not only raise enough to help local families, but also to donate some to the Susan G. Komen foundation in honor of Denise Czinke and the love that she gave, which started this all!)

I will continue to “trade up” for the next eleven months, chronicling the story as I go, here in this blog. In December of 2008, I will place the final item along with the story as it unfolded on ebay. I will donate ALL proceeds from this final sale to help families in need around the Indy area (Update: As well as the Susan G. Komen foundation, if we raise enough!).

So the journey begins, what do you have that might be worth more than my good buddy Chuck the squirrel? (Chuck also happens to co-star in an independent movie created by my girlfriend for her sister as a Christmas gift! Check out Chuck’s film debut in the next post.)

I hope to have “traded up” in value so that we raise well over six figures by this time next year!

Email me at aaron@pieshapedwedge.com


Regards,


Aaron

Chuck lesson of the day: "When you give, you get friendship. Literally"

We made our next trade! We tried to post on craigslist immediately after our last trade with Dave, but CL (or the readers therein) deleted our post over and over again. It took quite a while for it to be up there long enough to get some responses. We, however, persisted and prevailed and we are very excited about presenting the resulting new friend and trade! We'd like to introduce Chris, our most recent (highly enthusiastic) participant in the project. (He's not actually the trade, but I'm getting to that...) Chris e-mailed us saying he had a whole assortment of things he'd be willing to offer us in trade for the coins, and sent us pictures, which we spent a good deal of time pouring over and evaluating. (We had an "antique roadshow" moment, as we "expertly" analyzed the potential popularity of each item)

He generously offered to let us select from several tribal masks,
some speakers, and quite a bit of artwork, but we chose what we felt had the best story....


Which was this painting, titled "Friendship" - which was actually created by one of Chris' friends, a local artist.(We were kind of excited to be "promoting" local art) On the back, written on the wood canvas frame is a quote by Socrates;

"Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant"

The artist has also written comments about what the work represents - the smoke and webs that often obscure true friendship, but equally the ability of us all to see through those things to what and who really matter.

Chris lives in Kokomo so it took a few days for us to finally coordinate a time to meet, but finally, one freezing, rainy afternoon, we met at the new Paradise Restaurant and Bakery in Carmel - He came dashing in, informing us (enthusiastically) that he was really glad to meet us, but that he'd just found out that he had to drive another hour to perform a two minute repair on a jukebox before driving another hour back...all the while he stayed up-beat, smiling anyway... Thanks Chris, for your excitement, positive attitude, and your participation!!!!
So this is the next item up for trade...like always, we're looking forward to hearing your story and ideas for taking this project to it's next "evolution"...
I looked through the "giving book" from last Christmas and got excited all over again about what will be possible this year, with all of our combined efforts...based on the responses so far I am expecting that we will be able to do BIG things for others this year!!!!

Chuck Finds A Home...And Copper Inspiration

We are so pleased to announce that Chuck found a great home! About three days ago Aaron excitedly announced that he'd gotten some return inquiries on his craigslit post about Chuck. The first person to write offered their favorite toenail clippers....
and yes, that's what I said, too. While we found this to be pretty funny, we were both really intrigued by the second letter, which is from Dave, his offer and his huge interest in Chuck. Here's Dave's letter;

"I have a great trade for CHUCK, I will trade 1-Indian head penny, 1-Buffalo nickel, 1-Mercury Dime, 1-Silver Quarter, 1-Bicentenial Half Dollar, 1-Bicentenial Dollar, 1-$2.00 Dollar Bill, and 1-1971 US Mint Proof Set. I would Like to Have CHUCK, so him and I can sit back and watch Everyone Trade it Forward!!!!!!"

Aaron and I could tell that this guy really saw the value of Chuck's mission, and so we arranged to meet Dave in Broadripple at the Ripple Bagel & Deli. (http://www.ripplebageldeli.com/) We left the office late (Aaron hates to be late. Aaron is never late.) and called Dave on our way, saying we'd be 5 or 10 minutes behind. We got there to find Dave waiting by the door. He greets us with a great big grin and dismisses Aaron's apology for being late as they shake hands. He turns to me and I proudly introduce Chuck. Dave reaches straight-faced into his pocket and says "I was concerned that Chuck might need a snack, so I brought these"...and pulls out a handful of walnuts and brazil nuts. I knew then that our favorite squirrel-turned-actor-turned-philanthropist (The Brad Pitt of Squirrels?) had found a great home!

The deli is peaceful as we sit down, the inviting smell of bagels hangs in the air. Dave hands us an envelope with his trade inside and tells us his 7 year old daughter is really looking forward to meeting Chuck. He pulls out the coins and I'm particularly fascinated by the proof set, which is literally so shiney I can't look away, the murcury dime which is from 1941(it occurs...it was spent durring the second world war!) and the Indian penny from 1902 which happens to be the same year President Roosevelt became the first president to ride in a car! I wonder to myself....who else has held this penny in their hands, and will this penny, worth so little in our economy, after 106 years in existience....go on to do something truly large? And this makes me think, how many times do people feel that they are (or others think of them as) "only a penny"? Yet,that doesn't mean they can't do things worth more than anyone dreamed. That "stated value" really doesn't define their worth or their potential. Maybe somedays we all feel like "just a penny". Maybe next time I do, I'll remember that tiny metal bit of perspective, from today. It's my own copper inspiration.



Dave says these coins belonged to his grandmother. We learn she spent her life taking care of his uncle who had some mental challenges. He says she looked out for him until he was 65 and she in her 90s. When they finally said his uncle was going to pass, his grandmother announced "I don't want to see that", and 6 months before he went, she died.

We had another meeting after Dave, so we parted company after not too long, promising to keep in touch. Dave says he'll be posting "Chuck-Updates"(that's not to be confused with Up-Chuckdates...) here in comments, so keep a lookout for that. Plus, if you think you might like to have some Copper Inspiration of your own, let us know what you can trade so we can keep going! We'd love to meet you and hear your story, too!!! I've put some pictures of the NEW items for trade....as well as pictures of Aaron and our new good friend, Dave.









P.S. We also received an offer to trade for this deer skull. Just for the record.










(NOTE TO THE READER: I has the Mary's Veggie Sandwich, which is like a pizza sandwhich...it was phenomenal. Aaron really enjoyed his Mr. Turkey as well...Ken and Susan, the owners were there and incredibly friendly...all in all, the whole atmosphere is young, fun and interesting. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a nice lunch!)