By Wade Coggeshall
DANVILLE — The Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District’s objective is educating the public on the sustainable use of resources through recycling and waste reduction.
One of SWMD’s biggest efforts in this realm is the Big GREEN Give from 1-5 p.m. Saturday at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex, 1900 E. Main St., Danville.
The event features numerous area non-profits and philanthropic organizations. The premise of the Big GREEN Give is for attendees to buy gifts in the form of donations from these groups, in lieu of the season’s traditional gift-giving. Its slogan is “give more, gift less.”
“As Americans, we make more trash during the holidays than at any other time of the year,” said Amy Sieferman, SWMD outreach coordinator. “The Big GREEN Give is a festive way to reduce holiday waste while supporting local charitable organizations. Think less packaging, boxes, and bows and more people, animals, and nature cared for and supported.”
Some of the participating organizations include Hendricks County Meals on Wheels, Wheeler Mission, and Project Homeless. A $25 donation to Meals on Wheels, for example, buys a hot meal for one person for one week.
Those who make monetary donations are given a recycled content card to in turn give to the gift recipient.
In addition to the gift-giving component, the Big GREEN Give also will feature earth-friendly gift wrapping and decoration workshops, music by area school choirs, snacks, and information about getting more out of the holidays by simplifying.
For more information on the Big GREEN Give, visit the website at www.hendrickssolidwaste.com or call 745-9130.
Participating organizations
Hendricks County Meals on Wheels
Hendricks County Friends of the Shelter
Parks Foundation of Hendricks County
Hendricks County Healthy Families
Mental Health of America of Hendricks County
Heritage Foster Adoption Support
Wheeler Mission
Kingsway Community Care Center
Providence Wildlife Rehabilitation
Hope House of Indiana
Habitat for Humanity Hendricks County
Avon-Washington Township Parks and Recreation
Project Homeless
The Food Pantry
The Lion’s Den
Sheltering Wings
Unitarian Universalist Church
