Incentive offered for people to give their time and sandbag
Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) - Fargo City leaders are now offering an incentive for people to give their time and sandbag. It's called "Denny's Bucks for Bags." City leaders announced the plan this morning. For every 100 hours a person or organization spends helping out, they get 75 dollars.
That money then goes to a non-profit organization of the person's choice, it includes school clubs, sports teams, fraternities or church groups, but this incentive program only lasts until one million sandbags are filled.
“Everybody gave free volunteer time last year and this is a way to give back to those organizations. And we just figured, a lot of the non-profits, wouldn't this be a nice thing to do as something to do on Saturday or Sunday.”
Non-profit organizations have to have been around since January of this year to receive any funds from this incentive.
There's one age group who is really looking forward to this incentive, college students. NDSU has more than 250 student groups on campus, which could benefit from this program. Students say they have their own incentive for helping out.
After spending countless hours filling and throwing sandbags last spring, Chad Loveless says there are a lot of people his age who are just plain burned out.
“I know a lot of my friends and other students were kind thinking oh geez, here we go again.”
Students worked around the clock helping with the flood fight, all without any pay. Now, in return for helping to save Fargo, student organizations well get something in return.
“Kind of nice to have the opportunity for student groups who are putting in a lot of time to you know, maybe get something that'll maybe help them as well.”
These students, who are typically low on cash most of the time, say the opportunity of money isn't a driving force to get out and donate their time.
“The incentive is nice, but I don't think it's the reason that students do any of this. I mean, we have an atmosphere of giving and service that's no only for NDSU, but for Fargo-Moorhead in general.”
“The recognition is certainly nice, but it's definitely not necessary I would say.”
To them, the idea of coming together as Fargoans and working for a common goal is more important.
“That's kind of our society's mentality up here, and that's one of the qualities that brings us to this school and this community.”
Which is why these students say they're ready to roll up their sleeves one more time to get the job done. NDSU is encouraging its students to go between classes, during the evenings or in their free time, to help with the sandbagging effort.
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