This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Growing Green Thumbs

A free, family-friendly, Earth Day project! The Neighborhood Giving Project partners with the Oak Park Conservatory to grow little green thumbs.

The Neighborhood Giving Project has teamed up with the Oak Park Conservatory for its next community-service project, centering on being good stewards of the environment.

Occurring Earth Day weekend, the multi-station event allows the youngest of children to learn more about recycling, clean-up efforts, and what they can do to be "green".

Families are encouraged to recycle their "old crayon nubs" (how-to can be found here), into "blue and green and white balls, Earth-like", said Joanna Senter, member of the Neighborhood Giving Project, and bring them in to the Oak Park Conservatory on April 21st at 10am. On site, the kids will help assemble and decorate boxes for the Conservatory's biggest fundraiser, their annual plant sale.

Find out what's happening in Oak Park-River Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"There's over 1000 of these boxes that get used and need to be assembled" said Fran Arnold, an organizer of the project, "it's an easy way for kids to help a fantastic organization." The children's decorations will focus on Earth Day messages, encouraging folks that take the boxes, which are used to transport purchased plants, to recycle and repurpose the boxes in various light-hearted ways ("use me as your next kitty-litter box!").

Also on tap is the Conservatory's Imagination Station, which will highlight sources of sugar, as well as behind-the-scenes tours of the greenhouses. The educational component is very important to the Neighborhood Giving Project, and is a common thread through all their projects. "Our main goal, our mission, is always to provide children and families an opportunity to try out various service projects in small, bite-sized ways. An important part of that is showcasing an organization so that a family can learn what they do, how they do it, why they're needed, and what additional opportunities there may be to help", said Carrie Summy, the group's President.

Find out what's happening in Oak Park-River Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Weather-permitting, the group hopes to get outside for a supervised clean-up of the grounds, as well areas of Rehm Park. All supplies will be provided, and the event is free. Donations will be accepted for the Conservatory.

A group of local Oak Park parents formed the organization last October, combining their expertise in volunteerism, education, family programming, sales and marketing into a free, volunteer-run organization that provides busy families with local service opportunities.

On May 6th, the group is participating in the Oak Park CROP Walk, and hopes to raise $1,000 through participants and sponsors. The organization is not resting come summer, though projects will be postponed until fall. Summy said, "We hope to have a presence at Day in the Village, get our name out there, get families on our mailing list and interested in our projects, and hopefully grow. We are applying for non-profit status and the summer will be a planning stage for our organization. I'm really excited about all the support and interest we've received so far; I really think we are fulfilling a need and a great concept."

The group is seeking additional volunteers, including a liaison for Hatch School, as well as any private/parochial school members, and Julian and Brooks middle schools. School Liaisons help distribute information to their PTO and other neighborhood parent channels, and will "hopefully help plan our 2012/13 year", said Summy.

To participate in the Earth Day project, please rsvp to fran@neighborhoodgivingproject.org.

For more information, or to volunteer with the Neighborhood Giving Project, contact carrie@neighborhoodgivingproject.org or visit their website.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?