Golden Paperclip Challenge — For Good!
How far can one little paperclip go?
What if something as small as a paperclip could make a big difference?
Holy Trinity is putting a golden twist on a very unusual challenge: each of us is going to trade one golden paperclip up and up until Christmas — and then turn whatever we've received into an opportunity to do good.
We don't know where the Golden Paperclip will take us. What we do know is that whatever we end up with will be used to benefit others through Holy Trinity — whether it is given directly to a member of our community, donated to one of our partner organizations, or converted to its cash value to support the ministry and needs of Holy Trinity.
One Small Thing. One Big Possibility.
It All Started with a Red Paperclip
In 2005, Canadian blogger Kyle MacDonald wondered if he could trade one ordinary red paperclip for something bigger and better — eventually working his way up to a house.
He started on July 12, 2005, by offering his paperclip for trade online. His first trade was for a fish-shaped pen. From there, the trades continued: a doorknob, a camping stove, a generator, a snowmobile, a trip, a recording contract, a year of rent, an afternoon with musician Alice Cooper, a movie role — and ultimately a two-story house in Kipling, Saskatchewan.
But the story wasn't really just about the things Kyle traded. Along the way, he met hundreds of people, made new friends, traveled to new places and experienced things he never could have predicted when he looked down at that little red paperclip sitting on his desk.
And that's part of what makes the story so compelling: you never know what can happen when you're willing to make the first trade.
Watch Kyle MacDonald's TEDx talk, “What if you could trade a paperclip for a house?” and hear him tell the story in his own words.
Now We're Going Golden: The Rules
We're taking Kyle's idea and giving it a Holy Trinity twist. Instead of starting with a red paperclip and trading toward a house, we're starting with a golden paperclip and trading toward Christmas.
The rules are simple:
1. Start with the Golden Paperclip.
Holy Trinity will begin the challenge by giving each person a golden paperclip.
2. Make a trade.
Trade the paperclip for something that someone is willing to give in exchange.
3. Trade again.
Take that new item and find someone willing to trade it for something else.
4. Keep going!
Each trade becomes the starting point for the next one.
5. Bring it to church by Christmas.
Whatever we have at the end of the journey will be used For Good!
6. Remember to document your trades
Send images and updates to Communications@HolyTrinityFallsChurch.org
7. Share with Your Friends
”Go Public” with your trades. Post to your socials using #Goldenpaperclip and tag @golden_paperclip
Request a Golden Paper Clip
We will mail you a golden paper clip. Remember to donate your final trade to Holy Trinity by Christmas!