America Recycle's Day
Event to help food pantrys
Monday, November 09, 2009
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STEUBENVILLE - Diane Julio has seen the results of food pantries being taxed more and more.
"I have seen the number of people approaching the food pantries really increase in recent years. Last year the food pantry I help at had to give out canned hams from a dollar store. That is how the increased demand has affected our food pantries," declared Julio.
That need prompted Julio, the Jefferson-Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority and the Keep Jefferson County Beautiful office to announce plans to donate proceeds from one week of paper recycling to local food panties.
A paper recycling campaign also is set in Belmont County.
Julio of the Keep Jefferson County Beautiful agency said the campaign to encourage paper recycling and helping local food panties at the same time is a partnership "that will benefit everyone."
"We have created a very easy way for everyone to help our food pantries and clean out paper that may be accumulating in their homes," reported Julio.
"Starting Monday and continuing 24 hours a day through this week we will have a paper recycling receptacle at the Fort Steuben Mall near the Sears Tire and Auto Center. From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday we will also have people at the recycling center who will help unload paper from vehicles," explained Julio.
"The recycling truck located at the mall can be recognized by the banners designed and donated by Ed Rice and Signs Limited," remarked Julio.
"We are coordinating events with Valley Converting, the Fort Steuben Mall, Environmental Logistics Service, all schools in Jefferson County, Urban Mission and other local food pantries. Our schools have been sent pledges to participate starting today through Saturday," said Julio.
Those school pledges require students to recycle paper in the classroom as well as spread the word by encouraging family, friends and others to recycle.
"As a team we will make a positive impact. We pledge to always recycle," stated the school pledge distributed to every private and public school in Jefferson County.
"And everyone who donates paper products at the mall's recycling center will be given an opportunity to win prizes, including a $100 mall gift card," added Julio.
"We are encouraging residents to not only participate in this campaign to help our local food pantries but to also continue to recycle their paper, plastic bottles, jars, glass and metal cans. We also ask our residents to become an environmentally conscious shopper by purchasing products that include packaging made from recyclable material," noted Julio.
"Consumers can reduce the amount of trash generated by purchasing items that can be reused through recycling. With a little effort and creativity, waste reduction can become part of a shopper's routine," noted Julio.
"National Recycling Day is Nov. 15 and is the only day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and buy recycled products," said Julio.
"Valley Converting in Toronto has also agreed to set up a special account this week. Area residents can take their paper and paper products directly to the Valley Converting facility and say the proceeds should be credited to our food pantry account," she noted.
"This is a good way to recycle paper and to help a good cause. We plan to divide the money received from the paper recycling this week between the various food pantries in Jefferson County. We know Urban Mission is in Steubenville and we plan to donate to that pantry, but we also want to help the smaller food pantries located in the smaller communities throughout the county," said Julio.
"This is our chance to recycle for a good cause," she added.
(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)
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