On January 12th, we spent an entire day sharing Pollution Solutions with the community. First, we visited Save the Family, a local organization that works with homeless families to help them get back on their feet. While the moms took a class, a Roots & Shoots youth member and I presented to their children. It was interesting to hear what these kids knew and didn't know about caring for the earth. Some knew a lot, while other knew next to nothing. One thing that seemed apparent was that their schools all focused on recycling as the most important environmental solution. They had never thought of it as just a bandaid with the first course of action being prevention - i.e. REDUCE and REUSE! We played the Lunch Box Game, decorated reusable bags, listened to environmental songs, and built creations with biodegradable cornstarch "Magic Nuudles." Both children and presenters learned a lot from each other and had a lot of fun.

From Save the Family, we continued on to the one year anniversary celebration of the Cesar Chavez Library in Laveen, Arizona. Laveen was a small farming town that has been swiftly converted into suburbia over the last couple of years. The library and neighboring park are the focal point of the community, and it seemed that EVERYONE came to this event. The 50 bags requested by the library went in a flash. The Friends of the Library, a group of volunteers that raises funds for the library, held an emergency meeting to fund more bags, which we luckily had in the back of the van! Children decorated more than 100 bags by end of day, and I was hoarse from telling our "Story about Bags" multiple times to roaring crowds.

It was definitely a day to celebrate!