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Grocers Help Students Spread the Word about Earth Day

Release Date: 4/22/1998
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

This Earth Day, April 22, grocery shoppers in several area cities will be taking home more than groceries. In a pilot program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) brought selected schools and grocery stores together for an Earth Day project to increase awareness about protecting our environment.

"This project is a winner for the students, the stores and their communities. Using children's creative talents to decorate grocery bags with environmental messages is a great use of existing resources. Students, teachers, store staff and customers all learn more about our environment and how to protect it with this effective and low-cost project," Acting Regional Administrator Jerry Clifford said.

Grocery outlets were asked to provide paper sacks which students decorated with pictures and messages expressing the theme "Healthy Water, Healthy Children." The bags were returned to the stores to be used on Earth Day for sacking groceries.

Children learned about the importance of clean water, different types of water pollution, and how each individual can make a difference in keeping our nation's water supply safe. They also learned the value of forming partnerships to achieve a common goal in their communities.

Teachers and administrators found area businessmen to be willing partners and were able to forge relationships for future community projects.

Children will receive recognition for their participation and principals will receive EPA's Green School Award to acknowledge their schools' Earth Day commitments.

The response from schools, businesses and grocery customers to this pilot project was much greater than anticipated. EPA hopes this project spreads throughout the five-state region and is developing guidelines to assist teachers and principals in duplicating the success of this year's projects.

Other children's health initiative projects initiated by Region 6 include: Water for Life - Toddler Story Time, The Pledge Pond, Restaurant Placemat Project, Information Packets for Parents and Teachers, and Children's Health Traveling Display. For information on these projects, please call the Region 6 toll-free public information hotline at 1-800-887-6063.

The following schools and stores participated in the Earth Day grocery sack pilot project:

M. A. Hardin Elementary in Redfield Arkansas, and Cranford's Superfoods in Redfield
Principal: Mr. Dan Mincy
Earth Day Coordinator: Ms. Linda Johnson
Store Manager: Ms. Jean Wakefield

G. R. Taylor Elementary in White Hall, Arkansas, and Cranford's Fresh World in White Hall
Principal: Mr. George Connell
Earth Day Coordinator: Ms. Jaynie Cannon
Store Manager: Mr. Bob Simmons

Carrollton Elementary in Carrollton, Texas, and Sack 'N Save on Josey Lane, Carrollton
Principal: Mrs. Janie Vega
Earth Day Coordinator: Mrs. Tracy Schlossstein
Store Manager: Mr. Glen Wilhite

St. Augustine Catholic School in Dallas, Texas, and Albertson's at 1227 Master Road, Dallas
Principal: Mrs. Reeny Almas
Earth Day Coordinator: Ms. Linda Coats
Store Manager: Mr. Stuart McCoy

Walter Hall Elementary in League City, Texas, and Kroger Supermarket on Gulf Freeway, League City
Principal: Mrs. Cheryl Stephens
Earth Day Coordinator: Mrs. Teresa Brown
Store Manager: Mr. Tom Hearring

Hedrick Middle School in Lewisville, Texas, and Albertson's at 1087 W. Main St., Lewisville
Principal: Ms. Marsha Medcalf
Earth Day Coordinator: Mr. Casey Hall
Store Manager: Mr. Dennis Perry