Andre Banks started saving aluminum cans about five years ago when he realized he could cash them in to treat the neighborhood kids.
“I had ‘em, and I was throwing them away,” he explains. “Kids were always coming over getting popsicles, or the ice cream man would come by. I used to live off of 21 st and Pennsylvania. It was a lower-income area. I’d cash the cans in, and I’d get them some snacks from the ice cream man. It was pretty fun.”
Then one day, Banks realized he could do this on a much larger scale. While driving between jobs as a plumbing estimator for Pat Plumbing, Heating, and Air, he came up with the concept of One Can One Kid as a way to recycle aluminum cans and give back to the community. Today, people throughout the city are saving cans to donate to the cause.
Patrick Grogan, owner of Pat Plumbing, Heating and Air, gifted Banks one of the company’s older vans to use for One Can One Kid. Decorated with the charity’s new logo, Banks uses it to pick up cans whenever he’s called.
“It gets people back to really believing in humanity again. Once people get their faith back in humanity, then you start to see change go on. There’s too much hatred in the world and not enough love going around. We need a whole lot more of that love,” says Banks.
Last year, One Can One Kid’s first project was a collaboration with Center Stage Salon to offer free back-to-school haircuts. Banks says, “Lookin’ good is feelin’ good. Going back to school that first day is already hard enough. You gotta look great so you feel great.”
The next project was giving away five smoked turkey dinners for Thanksgiving. Knowing people were struggling because of the COVID pandemic, Banks posted his plan on Facebook, requesting people private message him to nominate families in need. Within two hours, he had families for all the dinners.
At Christmas time, Banks found unsuspecting restaurant servers and gave them an over- the-top tip. Then, in June, he heard about the owner of a tree service who was off work while going through cancer treatment while trying to support a family with six children. The charity gave them $600 in groceries to help.
“Everyone talks about doing God’s work,” Banks says. “I think ultimately God’s mission is to have everybody love one another and give back. This is just my little portion of doing God’s work because at the end of the day, when I make it to the Pearly Gates, I want to hear, ‘Job well done.’”
Soon, Banks plans to connect with some of the larger employers to collect cans in breakrooms. He hopes to use the proceeds to set up scholarships and give out awards to community nurses and teachers. As a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan, he would like to team up with the organization to surprise some kids with a player meet and-greet and watch a game.
“I think One Can One Kid could be huge,” Banks says. “Ideally, I’d like to see it across the United States and globally. It’s such an easy concept. You’re saving cans and giving back to your community. People don’t want a handout. They want a hand up.”
To donate cans to One Can One Kid, call or text Banks at 785-608-6324 or email onecanonekid2021@gmail.com. You can also follow the organization on its Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/One-Can-One-Kid-105166721881837)