By Harold Folley Jr.

As I turned the ignition to the green VOP mini-van that first day, I wondered how I would be able to knock on the door of someone that I did not know. Some energetic summer interns and I knocked on about 1,300 doors in Va. House District 58 this summer. With temperatures as high as 100 degrees, we managed to go on without falling prey to heat stroke or dehydration!

One of VOP’s statewide issues is capping payday loans at a yearly interest rate of 36 percent. Helping the environment would be our ice-breaker. We would knock at a door, and after an introduction, we asked folks if they had old cell phones and used ink cartridges that we could recycle for them — a good way to keep them out of the landfill.

We then asked people if they knew about payday loans. We were trying to educate folks about the payday lending method. In Virginia a borrower gives a payday lender a personal check with fees of $15 for every $100 borrowed. For example, with a $300 payday loan, the borrower writes the check for $345. With fees at $45, for a two-week loan, the yearly interest rate is 391 percent. VOP wants the state of Virginia to cap the APR at 36 percent.

We are still canvassing, using our fall interns and other volunteers. If you would like to canvass with us in the Charlottesville area, please contact Harold Folley at harold@virginia-organizing.org or (434) 984-4655 x231.

“I learned a lot about explaining the issue of predatory lending to a wide range of people, and I realized that the taboo against knocking on people’s doors is really limiting to participatory democracy,” said Kevin Simowitz, one of the summer interns. “Being able to talk with other people about what is going on in our community, and how to fight back against injustices like payday loans, gets new people involved in the democratic process and helps VOP build greater power as we work for the common good.”