The Green Fund:
Drawing a county’s people colser together

A community foundation like the Foundation for the Tri-State Community, Inc., on occasion, may act as a magnet, drawing various people of all ages and backgrounds together for a common, worthwhile purpose.

One excellent example of a true community project, says Mary Witten Wiseman, president of the Foundation for the Tri-State Community, is the "Greenup County Green Fund." The fund seeks to help keep the Kentucky county "clean and green" through grassroots efforts to maintain the county's natural beauty and to empower young people with the information necessary to improve the environment.

The fund's sponsor, who wishes to remain anonymous, is a longtime Greenup County resident. "I love this area and particularly Greenup County," she says. "I wanted to sponsor something in memory of my parents, but, at the same time, do something that would be lasting and supportive of Greenup County's natural beauty. By establishing the Green Fund, I wanted to challenge Greenup Countians to become more personally involved in taking care of the environment where they live."
The Maloneton Homemakers Club in Greenup County took the challenge.

Led by Helen Hammond, environmental chairperson of the Greenup County Extension Homemakers Council, and Eunice Harper, president of the Maloneton club, the homemakers developed a program, "Recycling - Now and for the Future" that interacted with school children. It was "an immense pleasure to be with the children and to see how they became very aware of recycling as a way to help the environment," indicated Harper. For the 90-year-old former school teacher and superintendent, it was obviously a project filled with meaning as well as love of the children.

Hammond said the project was fulfilling for the club members, too, and working with the children was especially rewarding. "There were some special, extra benefits," Hammond said. "We got hugs from all the children!"

The almost yearlong recycling and education effort included fourth graders from Worthington Elementary School, the county extension agency, and Harper's homemakers club. However, the project impacted far more than those immediately involved, and included parents, other school children, and even the general public.

One example: Imagine visiting the "Old Fashioned Days" festival in Greenup, Ky. and a child dressed with a silver funnel hat like the tin woodsman in "The Wizard of Oz" and a vest with the word "Recycle" asks you to put your empty soda pop can in his collection bag.

Yet, the effort was far more than collecting aluminum cans.

Members of the homemakers club visited the classroom to discuss and stress the need for solid waste reduction. The homemakers sewed the "recycle vests" and the children made recycling posters for the homemakers to display all year long. Family involvement was encouraged, and creative recycling ideas were brainstormed. With the children's imaginations, pencil holders from dog food cans, pin cushions from cat food cans, and trinket boxes from detergent containers were fashioned.

Recently, representatives of the club spent the day with the children, planting flowers around the school, having lunch with the fourth graders, and giving out recycling certificates.

Were their efforts at teaching recycling successful?

"Well, I know we've begun to collect all kinds of materials pop cans, pop tabs, paper, cardboard and newspapers," says Harper. "I think we've started something. Can you imagine what we could do if every homemaker club in Greenup County sponsored a recycling program with a classroom of children?"

"I'm sure we're on the road to success," says Hammond. "I heard one child ask his teacher if he could do this project again in the fifth grade!"

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