Winthrop School Kindergarteners & First Graders Decorate 200 Shaw’s Supermarket Bags for Earth Day
As part of a collaboration between the Melrose Department of Public Works (DPW), Melrose Shaw’s Supermarket, and Winthrop Elementary Art Teacher Kendra Robertson, Winthrop School kindergarteners and first graders decorated 200 recyclable Shaw’s grocery bags with environmental messages and drawings to raise awareness of Earth Day. The bags will be returned to Shaw’s and distributed to customers on Earth Day, April 22, from 6 a.m. until supplies last, as a friendly and cost-free environmental awareness project for Earth Day.
“This project is a wonderful way for our students to create authentic work that serves a purpose outside of the classroom and within the community while learning about the importance of taking care of our earth,” said Robertson.
Last week, Alison Beucler, Environmental Outreach Coordinator for the Melrose Department of Public Works, coordinated with Roberston to educate her kindergarten and first-grade art students about Earth Day and taught them the Earth Day Grocery Bag Project, which originated in 1994 and is one of the oldest and largest educational initiatives globally.
“I’m proud to work with Shaw’s Supermarket and the Winthrop Elementary School to bring the Earth Day Grocery Project, an international movement, to our local students,” said Beucler. “Our hope is that this fun and engaging project inspires our community members, including our youngest students, to take environmental action on Earth Day.”
“We are thrilled that City of Melrose and the Winthrop Elementary School invited Shaw’s to partner on the Earth Day Project,” said Eric Aguiar, Shaw’s District Manager. “This is a fun learning opportunity for the students and a great way for us to share with our Melrose store associates and customers the importance of protecting our environment.”
Since 1970, Earth Day has been recognized on April 22 and is known as the largest non-religious observance in the world. Recognized by more than one billion people worldwide, Earth Day is celebrated as a day of action, awareness, and change to help bring awareness to human interaction with the natural world.
Community members can have their groceries bagged in the Earth Day bags on Saturday, April 22, from 6 a.m. until supplies last at the Melrose’s neighborhood Shaw’s Supermarket located at 34 Essex Street in Melrose.
To learn about the City's other Earth Week (MONTH!) happenings, view the schedule of events.