Happy Earth Day and Earth Week!
Looking for ways to take action?
You can directly support the reach of our Corps Members and Alumni as community environmental leaders by donating to our GCF Spring Match Challenge – every dollar up to $75k will be matched through 5/31/24! With your help doubled, we can provide even more resources towards Cohort 27’s green economy training and our Alumni’s continued career advancement support, together as stewards of our community and our planet.
If you’re not in a position to donate, help spread the word about our matching opportunity by sharing this blog and our campaign page, or reposting on social media!
You can also help power community-level practices and climate resilience by adopting these individual tips from our young adults:
Zero-waste:
- Compost food scraps and other organic waste (including paper products like tea bags and napkins, plant trimmings, etc.)
- Reduce, reuse and recycle
- Avoid plastic and single-use products
- Mend old clothing, swap items with friends and neighbors, and when seeking something new buy thrifted and/or ethically-made, built-to-last pieces where possible
Water conservation:
- Turn off faucets when brushing teeth, soaping up or washing dishes, and taking shorter showers (water usage also = energy usage via pumps and heat!)
Energy efficiency and conservation:
- Unplug electric-powered devices when not in use (items turned off but still plugged in consume electricity!)
- Keep windows closed when the heat is on, utilize natural light from windows, and turn off the AC & lights when not there
- Swap incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs
Community health and safety:
- Consider biking, walking and taking public transportation where possible
- Incorporate local, in-season fruits and veggies into your diet and consider eating more plant-based meals
- Locate local resources for extreme weather preparation and adaptation
- If you have access to growing space, plant seasonal, biodiverse and pollinator-encouraging plants (and use compost to enrich the soil!)
- Volunteer at GCF’s farms: 2024 individual volunteer opportunities are now open – sign up to help out and learn directly from our young leaders themselves!
- Support local orgs that actively work to create positive environmental change like GCF!
Committing to these actions can help save $, resources and emissions at the same time as boosting the wellbeing of yourself, your neighbor and our shared home. Thank you for all that you do as GCF community members to celebrate and protect our earth while uplifting and giving back to our local communities!
In service and solidarity,
GCF
