What Would You Do With $100?

Group to Give $100 to 100 People in 100 Days

Twana Pinskey
Contributing Writer

Times are tough and sometimes finding a job can prove to be even more difficult. Especially in St. Clair County.

According to the United States Department of Labor, the unemployment rate in Michigan during April was 14 percent. Many believe that rate to be as high as 25 percent St. Clair County.

Unfortunately, the Blue Water Area is not immune to the sluggish economy, but there are a few bright spots out there.

Project 100 Blue Water Area is one such bright spot, giving hope and inspiring goodwill around the area. The idea behind the project is to help people by encouraging them to give back to their community, by giving to each other.

The project encourages people to “pay-forward” random acts of kindness to other Blue Water Area residents.

Jenny Bulgrien of Port Huron is a member of the Blue Water Project 100 team and said team members are encouraging residents to focus on random acts of giving.

“A lot of people are shocked,” when someone else offers to pay for their items Bulgrien said. “I was in Tim Horton’s and paid for the people in front of me.”

Bulgrien said the project is now in its second phase, where team members are randomly giving away $100 to 100 people in 100 days, with the intention for those people to also pay it forward.

“We want to focus on how people in the community can give back,” Bulgrien said.

The project hit the streets June 7, passing out $100 bills across the Blue Water Area.

Recipients of the $100 are asked to think of ways they could give back to their communities, including donating time and helping neighbors in need. Recipients of the money are also encouraged to share their personal stories on the Project 100 Web site – project100bluewater.com.

Mark Berry of Lexington, who shared his story on the Web site, said he was in line at the Dairy Queen in Fort Gratiot, when a man handed him a business card and offered to buy his ice cream.

“I thought he was kidding,” Berry said.

If you are one of the 100 Blue Water residents handed a $100 bill, lets us know and we'll share your story.