Gaia Warms the Season and Helps Cool the Planet
Jane Canepa/Rozana Audisho
Published: December 19, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gaia Warms the Season and Helps Cool the Planet
The Gaia Movement USA, Volunteers and Aldermen Make Holiday a Little Brighter
CHICAGO, December 19, 2011—This holiday season will be a little warmer and a little greener for Chicago-area recipients of gently used coats, like-new toys and books, thanks to The Gaia Movement USA, volunteer organizations and the aldermen in 2nd; 3rd; 7th; 12th; 15th; 24th wards. More than 1000 books, 800 toys have been given to families in need this season. More than 100 warm like-new winter coats will be given the first week of January to families in need through shelters around Chicago.
Like-new coats were selected from all the clothing donated to Gaia’s network of bright green collection boxes located throughout the Chicago area. These good quality coats were given to families in collaboration with several ward offices including Alderman Chandler, 24th Ward, Feed, Clothe, Help the Needy Program located in Englewood and Lakeview Pantry in the northside of Chicago.
“We have been holding this coat program three years,” said Eva Nielsen, CEO and president of GAIA. “Many of the coats are in mint condition and we know that they will be worn and appreciated by the people who receive them.”
Gaia has donated gently used toys to children and families for more than six years. This was made possible by the efforts of volunteers who helped ready the toys for donation. The Do Good Bus; Calumet Perspectives Students; DOOR South Carolina; Manley High School and BZ Kids gathered at Gaia’s southside headquarters this fall to clean, repair, restore and replace batteries for donated toys.
Gaia has also donated 200 children’s books to Aquinas Literacy Center for their Family Literacy Event during the month of November.
A teacher from Manley High School said, “We never realized how many usable toys are discarded. With careful cleaning and a little love, these toys are like new. Knowing that they are going to kids who will use and enjoy them meant a lot to all of us. It is so useful for us to take our students to the Gaia facility and learn about reuse and recycling – in theory and practice”.
Keeping discarded materials—and especially textiles—out of the waste stream benefits the environment, too. According to the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Solid Waste, Americans throw away more than 68 pounds of clothing and textiles per person per year with clothing and other textiles, representing an average 6.3 percent of municipal solid waste. However, in Chicago, textiles make up significantly 10 percent of municipal waste. Through Gaia’s efforts year-round, 4.1 million pounds of textiles are diverted from the waste stream in Chicago each year. Together with Gaia operations in other states Gaia diverted about eight million pounds of textiles and other items this year.
The Gaia Movement USA is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) registered not-for-profit organization that operates a unique reuse clothes collection program and center. Gaia provides educational programs by promoting environmentally sustainable practices through the reuse and recycling of clothes while mobilizing passionate volunteers for cleanup and other environmental projects throughout the Chicago area and in several other cities in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and northern California. Visit www.http://www.gaia-movement-usa.org/.
For additional information, to participate, volunteer or attend, please call Mary K. Abeleda at 773-580-3512 or email Mary at mabeleda@gaia-movement.org.
Facebook: Gaia Movement USA
Twitter: @GaiaChicago
You Tube: www.youtube.com/user/TheGaiaMovement
Contact: Jane Canepa/Rozana Audisho
The Eventors Inc.
312 217-JANE(5263) –or-
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