It's not April 20th yet, but kicking off the newly organized initiative to benefit the lives of many local youth in the community, the Tiki Bar announced it’s partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maryland on Monday, March 12th, for a recycling initiative that will be held at the bar. 

Senator Roy Dyson graciously spoke about how he likes a good cause, calling this one of the most interesting ones he has encountered. Dyson congratulated the owners and staff for starting this recycling program and praised both the bar and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maryland for their creativity in saving the environment and helping out the youth in the community.  

In this unusual kick off ceremony, Dyson dropped the first aluminum can, a can of Red Bull, into one of the decorative barrels, which will collect aluminum cans from the Tiki Bar patrons..  After dropping the can Dyson spoke briefly on what this initiative will do for the community.  “We need to put the can in the right place,” he said.

Next to the recycling barrels, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Tiki Bar are planning on having a thermometer that measures all the funds that are raised from the aluminum.  The goal for the thermometer is set at $5,000.  Dyson made sure to comment that this shouldn't be used to encourage drinking but if you are going to drink you might as well contribute to a good cause.  “It costs 1,000 dollars to match one child per year,” Melanie Dalson, executive director of Big Brothers big Sisters of Southern Maryland told the Bay Net.  “I think this is a very proactive approach.”  

The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maryland organization works toward matching up specific children in the area with adult volunteers that are willing to spend time with these kids and allow them to learn.  These are usually children form single parent homes, according to the organization and are sent to them by parents, teachers, or counselors because they are in need of an adult friend. 

Joining the Tiki Bar for this kick off, apart from Dyson was Sherriff Mike Evans, bar owners Terry Clarke and Pat Donovan, Big Brother Big Sister representatives, and numerous others. On top of recycling for the children, the most recent initiative, the Tiki Bar will also hold an event once a month that will benefit a charity in the local community.  

Clarke also spoke following Dyson’s can drop to explain the Tiki Bar’s efforts.  “We will start here at the Tiki Bar and we will speak to other restaurants in the area,” he said.