Why Amazon Offsets?
I shop at Amazon. A lot. There's no denying it's convenient. And given the limited choices available in a rural community, the time constraints that come with a busy job, and the shutdowns caused by the pandemic, convenience became important above all else. Almost.
It's become increasingly difficult - impossible, really - to ignore the fact that Amazon lacks a moral compass. Every smiling box that magically appears on my doorstep comes with a very real cost beyond my Prime membership fee. While I love the ease with which I receive gummy vitamins and cat treats and nail polish, I cannot reconcile that ease coming on the backs of Amazon employees, overworked and facing unmanageable stress and unrealistic quotas.
Inspired by the idea of carbon offsets, Amazon Offsets was founded for socially conscious shoppers who still shop at Amazon. By donating to Amazon Offsets, shoppers can "offset" the human cost of their purchases as their donations will support Amazon employees in need.
Don't get me wrong, Amazon Offsets in no way solves the societal problems Amazon epitomizes. It is a band-aid. But when you're wounded, sometimes you need a band-aid.
Our Mission
Amazon Offsets shall mitigate the detrimental effects of using Amazon by offering financial support to Amazon employees.
The Story Behind Our Logo
While still in the planning stages, I excitedly told a friend about my idea. Instead of the support and encouragement I was hoping for, he told me that the problems Amazon causes its employees are too big for me to address. While I momentarily felt defeated, I soon remembered the book "The Starfish Thrower" by Loren Eiseley.
In the book, Eiseley tells the story of an old man walking along a beach littered with starfish washed in by the tide. Off in the distance, he sees a young boy walking toward him, stopping every few feet and bending down. As the young boy got closer, the old man noticed he was picking up starfish and throwing them back into the sea. When they came upon each other, the old man asked the young boy what he was doing, and the boy said the tide washed up the starfish and he was throwing them back into the sea before the sun got too hot and killed them. The old man gestured at the miles of beach behind him and pointed out there were thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of starfish, and the boy couldn't possibly make a difference. The young boy bent over, picked up a starfish, threw it into the water, and said, "I made a difference for that one."
I agree the problems Amazon causes its employees are too big for me to solve. But I can always "make a difference for that one."
Board of Directors
Jennifer D'Urso
President
Kirsten Burkhart
Treasurer/Founder
Theresa Hrzic-Colimon
Secretary
Volunteers
Adrienne Mansfield
Marketing Advisor
Chloe Igiametse
Research Assistant