By Steven Hui, Revelstoke Community Foundation
In the spring of 2011 the directors of the Community Foundation established the Revelstoke Community Environmental Fund. Proceeds from the fund will be used to further environmental issues in the Revelstoke area. A logo design contest was held through the elementary schools. The winning logo design was created by Emma Otsig, a grade 5 student from Mount Begbie Elementary School. An initial $1,000 was transferred from the general fund. Since then we have received a $5,000 donation from the Revelstoke TD Canada Trust branch and another donation from an office who donated monies from recycling in their office.
In November the Foundation went to the business community to solicit for their support. Some businesses charge for disposable beverage cups or provide a small donation when a customer uses a reusable shopping bag. The Environmental Fund may be an appropriate place to direct these monies.
In addition a coin collecting drive “Change for a Greener Revelstoke” kicked off in November. Stickers were distributed at the No Host Bazaar to be place on a container ie. jar, plastic container, etc to collect spare change at home or the office. These are the coins you commonly leave in a bowl, on top of a dresser or in a desk drawer at the end of the day. You likely wouldn’t even feel the impact of these coins if they were donated, but if we can get a few hundred of these containers working it would lead to some good donations to the new fund. Once collected the collection container is turned into the Foundation. We will track the monies collected and of course send your empty container to be recycled. To find out more about this coin drive or the environmental fund contact Steven Hui at 250-837-3151.
