At the recent National Manufacturing Week show in Chicago, rows upon rows of tables reflected a wide swath of the manufacturing industry. Company presidents from across the country stood side-by-side with salespeople. Hands were shaken, sales were made and a new and exciting crop of products were introduced to buyers for the first time.

But a table near the front of the show garnered a different kind of interest. There were no corporate executives or product prototypes. Instead, two U.S. military veterans, Sgt. Darryl Eddings and Sgt. Natasha Espinoza manned the table and talked to the show's attendees about the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes.

The non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization was formed to help wounded Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans rebuild their lives after returning from combat. The idea for the coalition was formed after 9/11 when founder Roger Chapin sought to form a group to support U.S. troops. Chapin is chairman of USAopoly, a specialty board game manufacturer.

The veterans at National Manufacturing Week were on hand to talk to manufacturers about the coalition's newest program, Toners for Wounded Troops. The coalition has partnered with the National Association of Manufacturers and Information Alternatives Inc. on the project.

The program's remanufacturing process reuses and refills ink and toner cartridges so they can be used again. Industry estimates say more than 300 million plastic printer cartridges end up in landfills worldwide.

Once collected, the cartridges are disassembled, cleaned and repaired if needed. The cartridges are tested prior to packaging. Coalition Executive Vice President Doug Plank says the organization is working on branding its line of remanufactured printer cartridges.

The toner program funds counseling, equips housing for disability compliance and offers job assistance for veterans. The coalition also plans to repeat a conference it held last year to bring soldiers and their families together.

For every 100,000 used cartridges that are donated, the coalition says it can finance the construction of a new, disability-adapted house for a wounded veteran of the Afghan and/or Iraq wars. “Through these donations, we hope to help build up to 100 homes within the next two years, as well as offer other essential support - such as job training and job placement - for our severely wounded veterans,” NAM says.

On a smaller scale, 250 empty cartridges can provide $1,000 for one month to make up lost income to a recuperating disabled veteran and family.

For companies seeking to cut costs, there are other benefits. Plank estimates the remanufactured cartridges save companies up to 40 percent compared to OEM cartridges.

But Plank says giving back to those who have served their country is the greater reward. “There is an unmet need out there,” Plank says. “In some cases, the soldiers return and find themselves on the verge of losing their homes. Often, disability doesn't kick in right away.” 


To learn more about the program, call Roger Karvel at Information Alternatives Inc., at 815-477-9269.
To learn more about the Coalition To Salute America's Heroes, visit www.saluteheroes.org.