By Nicole Long, MSW, LICSW
CEO of Old Colony Elder Services

Earth Day, Wednesday April 22, is a day to raise environmental awareness and take action to preserve and protect our planet.
Ensuring clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment is essential. Everyone has a role to play and can make a difference. There are many ways to get involved on Earth Day. Attend an event, gain a better understanding about Earth Day, and share that knowledge with others.
Here are more ways to recognize and support Earth Day:

  • Plant a vegetable garden. Not only will it provide you with nutritious food, but it will also help to reduce carbon emissions.
  • Consider planting native plants in your yard to support bees, butterflies, and songbirds, which are among nature’s pollinators.
  • Support “sustainable fashion.” One way to do this is by choosing clothing made from organic fabrics or natural fibers such as cotton, silk, wool, and linen, as these materials are more environmentally friendly.
  • Consider shopping for clothes or household items at thrift and vintage shops. Donate unwanted clothing or other items to a thrift store or to a charity.
  • Plant a tree. Trees clean the air while also providing a natural environment for animals and other organisms.
  • Choose an alternative to plastic shopping bags, such as cloth or reusable bags.
  • Commemorate Earth Day. Enjoy spending some time at a nature preserve, hiking a local trail, or walking along the shoreline.
    Volunteer
    Did you know? April is National Volunteer Month! Let us honor and celebrate volunteers who help make a difference in the lives of so many and in the communities they serve.
    Volunteers generously dedicate their time and effort to make a positive impact in countless ways.
    A few examples of volunteer opportunities include:
  • Joining a community cleanup event. For example, at a beach cleanup, volunteers remove trash and other debris from the coastline.
  • Volunteering to help maintain a hiking trail or wildlife sanctuary.
  • Tending a community garden or volunteering at a community farm.
    Whether you would like to volunteer on Earth Day or you are seeking other volunteer opportunities, there are all sorts of volunteer opportunities that may fit your lifestyle. Consider becoming one of the 63 million Americans who volunteer each year. To learn more about volunteer opportunities in your community and at OCES, visit ocesma.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities.

Source: EarthDay.org. https://www.earthday.org/action/

About the Author: Nicole Long is the Chief Executive Officer of Old Colony Elder Services (OCES). Founded in 1974, OCES is a private, non-profit organization proudly serving greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency offers a number of programs to serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.