Service Ideas for Lions of 5M5

 

ENVIORNMENT

Here are ideas in one of the five key areas of service on ways to serve your community:

 

• Recycles plastic bags and plastic packaging and gives back with a bench for communities. https://www.trex.com/recycling/recycling-programs/

 

• Donate your newspaper and magazine to others instead of throwing in the garbage.

 

• Sponsor a recycling event with a local city or town and a recycling facility to collect hazardous items that shouldn't go in the trash, paint, etc. Offer free paper shredding as well.

 

• Make a decorative winter container garden or a container garden that feeds the birds.

 

• Feed birds - make a variety of treats that will feed and sustain birds and wildlife throughout the winter including bird feeders using cookie cutters; suet-filled orange halves; popcorn and cranberry garlands, and more. These could be made at a Lions meeting just for the Lions or do a community event so more birds are fed in the community.

 

• Collect aluminum cans. Turn these in afterward and use the proceeds to support an environmental project.
   
• Recycle sneakers so they can be transformed into Nike Grind material which is used in performance products and sport surfaces. The Reuse-A-Shoe program recycles athletic shoes at the end of their life, giving them a new life through Nike Grind. Bring shoes to the Nike store in Eagan. Any brand of athletic sneakers is accepted. However, Nike is unable to recycle sandals, dress shoes, boots, or shoes with metal (like cleats or spikes). 

 

• Recycle medical equipment (e.g., crutches, wheelchairs, scooters) to create a “library” of items that can be checked out at no cost and used until no longer needed. When done with the item, it should be returned to your Medical Equipment Library (MEL).
• Build bluebird houses or other types of birdhouses. Install these in your back yard.

 

• Adopt a Highway.  Lions can volunteer and participate in Adopt a Highway to pick up litter along Minnesota’s state highways. MnDOT will provide bags, approved safety vests, training and bag retrieval. You contribute approximately four hours of labor. Contact an Adopt a Highway coordinator for details.
   
• Adopt a Drain asks residents to adopt a storm drain in their neighborhood and keep it clear of leaves, trash, and other debris to reduce water pollution.  Sign up at https://www.adopt-a-drain.org/map
   
• Spring Clean Up.  Most communities have a spring clean up event in which they encourage service organizations to participate in.  So grab your work gloves, and help keep your communities parks and trails clean.  It’s pretty easy to contact your city hall for specific information.

 

• Plant trees. Consult your local environment authorities to determine the type and number of trees needed, as well as the location for planting.

 

• Environment Activities.  Find environment activities that members of your club have an interest in.  For example; monarch butterflies have been gaining attention recently.  One of the most visible organizations is the Monarch Joint Venture located right here in St. Paul.  They have ways for you to help in bringing back the monarchs.  Contact https://monarchjointventure.org/about-us