What a joyful day! Over two hundred fifty folks came out for our April 19th Earth Day Party in the Antioch Discovery Garden. Smiles, music, laughter, learning, conversations – the community spirit rippled through the afternoon. The Mayor of Fort Smith George McGill delivered an official proclamation acknowledging the Climate League’s efforts to advance climate solutions benefitting local people and recognizing the “vital connection between community engagement and environmental health and sustainability” and the collaborative work being done by the Climate League and others in the garden.
Climate League Volunteers and donors played a vital role in the gathering’s success. Nancy VanBoskirk and Deborah Vann, key members of our organizing team, created and staffed our composting education and raffle tables, respectively. We’re incredibly grateful to the cadre of caring folks who helped out at the welcome tables, with food service, pre-event planning, set up and clean up! A special thank you to First National Bank of Fort Smith for being a lead sponsor of the Earth Day Party.
Earth Day attendees had over 30 interactive stations to visit. Engagement was brisk at booths oriented toward practical emission reductions. CLEAResult distributed 150 weatherization kits; Solar Under the Sun took clean energy questions from folks of all ages; and our staff was delighted to introduce many neighbors to our Resource Center Energy Efficiency Bank and Tool Lending Library.
