Wake Robin residents and staff have kept busy throughout April paying tribute to Earth Month. Many events were coordinated by Wake Robin’s chapter of SSAFE (Senior Stewards Acting for the Environment). From celebrating nature through artwork, a Repair Fair, or tips on reducing junk mail, there was no shortage of activities in the name of Environmental Stewardship.
Environmental Stewardship is one of Wake Robin’s core values and is top of mind in our operational decisions. Wake Robin offers electric vehicle charging stations in several locations around the campus for resident and staff use. Wake Robin also promotes carpooling with the “Park Your Carbon” initiative; any employee who carpools, bikes, or takes the bus to work are entered in a monthly gift card drawing. This initiative, alone, has reduced over 2,600 vehicle miles in the first quarter of this year.
The Wake Robin kitchen’s large biodigester helps reduce food waste and Wake Robin residents are encouraged to compost with bins and bags. In ‘Green Rooms’ (trash rooms located in neighborhoods and apartments) there are sorting areas for batteries, empty prescription pill bottles, refundables, cardboard, and more.
And, of course, one of the biggest examples of recycling and reusing is the Wake Robin Tag & Book Sale. Every month, the Tag Sale has a collection day for residents to drop off items they cannot use or don’t have room for and would like to donate – everything from kitchen items, to antiques, to camping supplies, and books. Then, one Saturday in June, residents open the Hornbeam building garage filled to the brim with all these donations meticulously organized and priced to move. Any items not sold at the Tag Sale are then donated to local nonprofits like Knights of Columbus or ReSource.
All that to say that, while we are proud to celebrate Earth Month this April, Wake Robin is proud to represent Environmental Stewardship year-round. Making a few small changes doesn’t seem like much, but with over 400 residents and 200+ staff members, many small changes equal a big impact on our community.
Here are some of the Earth Month activities that happened in April:
- Film Showing: Mitigating Climate Change Through Healthy Soils
- Junk Mail Project
- Chittenden Solid Waste Presentation
- National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
- Repair Fair
- Bird Song Walk
