The start of May gets me excited for outdoors farmers markets and fresh produce from my parent's garden. It also reminds me the school year is coming to its end with just over a month left for most students and teachers. Like my nieces and so many other children (but maybe not parents), I always looked forward to summer break. However, in my current role I'm thinking about September.

Each year across the nation, volunteers, communities, educators, and students come together to transform all our schools into healthy, safe, cost-efficient, and productive learning places where students have clean and healthy air to breathe, where energy and resources are conserved, and where they can be inspired to dream of a brighter future. The national initiative is called Green Apple Day of Service and is scheduled for September 27th this year.

The Green Apple initiative is powered by volunteers who participate in community-based efforts; promoted by media partners, like-minded NGOs and high-profile ambassadors; and funded by corporate partners and community members who contribute a portion of proceeds or make a substantial sponsorship donation.

Participating schools have the opportunity to choose what type of project most benefits their school. Here are a few examples of the types of projects a school may choose:

• Planting gardens,
• Cleaning up inside and around school grounds,
• Conducting a waste-stream sort,
• Beginning a recycling campaign, or
• Reusing construction waste to build a school garden or structure.

Our schools deserve better, but they can't do it alone. For the month of May, the WGBA Green Schools Committee is fundraising to support recycling and waste reduction projects for Wisconsin schools. Not only will your donation go directly to a Wisconsin school, but you'll get some cool artwork or recognition for your support. Help us reach our goal of raising $7,000 by May 31. Give as little as $25 for the cause.

Check out our fundraiser here:

http://igg.me/at/wigados2014/x/7173945 

We also need volunteers to help schools plan and run projects, and tell schools about Green Apple Day of Service. Please consider volunteering to help your local school and community. Sign up here: http://bit.ly/gadosvolunteer.

Many thanks,

Heather Goetsch

Program Manager

Wisconsin Green Building Alliance

(414) 224-9422

hgotesch@wgba.org