A Season of Gratitude
Empowering Change - Stronger Together
GFWC OHIO
2024-2026
ENVIRONMENT
State Chairman
Sharon Sheridan
District Chairmen
Lake Erie District: Kathy Fink
Northeast District: Lauren Wolfgang
Southeast District: Sharon Sheridan
Southwest District: Karen Kessen
“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” Franklin D. Roosevelt
The ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM has four areas of work:
Preserve Resources
Protect Wildlife and Domesticated Animals
Live Sustainably
Beautify Communities and Enjoy Nature
BEAUTIFY COMMUNITIES AND ENJOY NATURE:
➢ Adopt-a-Highway through your state Department of Transportation
➢ Plan a clean-up day in the community
➢ Invite a Master Gardener to give a program on ornamental plants that grow best in your climate or another topic of interest to your group
➢ Plant native wildflowers
➢ Tour a botanical garden
LIVE SUSTAINABLY
➢ Investigate renewable energy projects and sources in your area
➢ Conserve water and energy
➢ Hold a club yard sale to repurpose gently-used items and donate the proceeds to various environmental groups
➢ Donate gently-used shoes to Soles4Souls
➢ Participate in Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe Program, which accepts worn out sneakers and makes Nike Grind, a material used in sports surfaces and playgrounds
PRESERVE RESOURCES
➢ Support community gardening
➢ Support wetland conservation and learn how wetlands are a deterrent to both flooding and drought and how they filter and purify water
➢ Plant and care for trees or donate funds for reforestation
➢ RECYCLE, REUSE, REDUCE
➢ Educate children on how they can protect the environment
PROTECT WILDLIFE AND DOMESTICATED ANIMALS
➢ Preserve natural habitat to protect wildlife
➢ Provide needed items to sanctuaries for animal rehabilitation and care
➢ Visit a state or national park
➢ Join the Christmas Bird Count with the Audubon Society annually December 14th -- January 5th
➢ Explore National Wildlife Refuges, near you
RESOURCES
❖ America Recycles Day – www.americarecyclesday.org
❖ Arbor Day Foundation – www.arborday.org
❖ Audubon Society – www.audubon.org
❖ U. S. Forest Service – www.fs.usda.gov
❖ U. S. Fish & Wildlife – www.fws.gove
❖ World Wildlife Fund – www.worldwildlife.org
❖ Ohio Department of Natural Resources – www.ohdnr.gov
❖ Ohio Environmental Protection Agency – www.epaohio.gov
GFWC AFFILATE ORGANIZATIONS
-
HEIFER INTERNATIONAL promotes agroecology, working with farmers to integrate climate smart agricultural practices to increase resilience and crop production www.heifer.org
-
UNICEF promotes child friendly cities and clean water security throughout the world. There is a UNICEF USA Child Friendly City Initiative and UNICEF’S WASH Project to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene.
DATES WORTH MENTIONING
01/05 National Bird Day
02/02 World Wetlands Day
03/03 World Wildlife Day
04/22 Earth Day
04/26 Arbor Day
05/20 World Bee Day
06/08 World Oceans Day
07/28 World Conservation Day 09/08 World Clean Up Day
10/04 World Animal Day
11/01 World Ecology Day
12/05 World Soil Day