Celebrating Canada’s volunteers and Earth Day during COVID-19

Volunteers have stepped up even more during the pandemic, and you can still help the environment even without community clean-ups

By GreenUP -
Published
Wednesday, April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and this week is also National Volunteer Week. In 2019, volunteers with Peterborough GreenUP's Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood program planted more than 1,200 square metres of gardens, including native species of plants that have a low-water need. (Photo: GreenUP)
Wednesday, April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and this week is also National Volunteer Week. In 2019, volunteers with Peterborough GreenUP's Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood program planted more than 1,200 square metres of gardens, including native species of plants that have a low-water need. (Photo: GreenUP)

Wednesday (April 22) marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and this week is also National Volunteer Week.

Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Leif Einarson, Communications and Marketing Co-ordinator at GreenUP.

We have a lot to reflect upon and many people to recognize during this global pandemic and the ongoing climate emergency.

At the end of this article I share some recommendations about how to celebrate Earth Day during COVID-19, but I want to begin by recognizing the importance of volunteers during this time of crisis.

It’s time to applaud Canada’s volunteers

“Volunteers work year-round to address critical social, economic, and environmental issues and the generosity is only amplified during floods, forest fires, and public health emergencies,” says Paula Speevak, president and CEO of Volunteer Canada.

“This year, we want to shine the spotlight on those volunteering to support essential services during this public health crisis, and to salute those who help by staying home to protect themselves and their communities.”

April 19-20, 2020 is National Volunteer Week. This year's annual recognition of Canada's 13 million volunteers has special significance in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, including volunteer efforts to create personal protective equipment for front-line health care workers. (Graphic: Volunteer Canada)
April 19-20, 2020 is National Volunteer Week. This year’s annual recognition of Canada’s 13 million volunteers has special significance in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, including volunteer efforts to create personal protective equipment for front-line health care workers. (Graphic: Volunteer Canada)

Every year approximately 12.7 million volunteers contribute over $55 billion per year to the Canadian economy, according to Volunteer Canada. In Peterborough, volunteers are helping fight COVID-19 by sewing thousands of masks and organizing food drives.

For example, a little over a month ago the shelves at Kawartha Food Share started to look empty. Approximately 9,000 community members depend on Kawartha Food Share and would be unable to stay healthy and stay home during COVID-19 without that support.

To address that urgent need, Megan Murphy led more than one hundred volunteers who gathered more than 22,000 pounds of donated food as part of the “Spare a Square” porch food drive. On behalf of everyone at GreenUP, thank you for your remarkable work making the fight against COVID-19 sustainable for some of our most vulnerable community members.

It's National Volunteer Week, a time to recognize the many people who contribute their time and talents to make the world a better place. Volunteer efforts have skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the work of volunteer drivers who collected more than 23,000 pounds of donated food for Kawartha Food Share during the March 23, 2020 "Spare A Square" porch food drive in Peterborough. The event was also organized by volunteers. (Photo: Kawartha Food Share)
It’s National Volunteer Week, a time to recognize the many people who contribute their time and talents to make the world a better place. Volunteer efforts have skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the work of volunteer drivers who collected more than 23,000 pounds of donated food for Kawartha Food Share during the March 23, 2020 “Spare A Square” porch food drive in Peterborough. The event was also organized by volunteers. (Photo: Kawartha Food Share)

If you are in a position to help, please consider donating to Kawartha Food Share at kawarthafoodshare.com or helping with the donation requests listed on the Peterborough Regional Health Centre website at prhc.on.ca.

To celebrate National Volunteer Week, everyone at GreenUP would also like to recognize the amazing volunteers who contributed to the remarkable success of our programs and projects in 2019.

“Volunteers give our community roots,” says Heather Ray, manager of water programs at GreenUP. “In 2019 the Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood program planted over 1,200 square metres of gardens. Volunteers made that possible by getting dirty, digging, planting, watering, documenting, and most importantly smiling together. It is not merely the gardens that grow, but also the shared knowledge that is exchanged between volunteers, staff, local businesses, and additional community members.”

In seems like a lifetime ago, but in fall 2019 volunteers helped depave the boulevard outside the GreenUP Store & Resource Centre. "We had such a great time,” shares Hannah McFarlane, who has volunteered at several Depave Paradise projects. “We’re all feeling like we can do anything together now that we’ve done that!” (Photo: GreenUP)
In seems like a lifetime ago, but in fall 2019 volunteers helped depave the boulevard outside the GreenUP Store & Resource Centre. “We had such a great time,” shares Hannah McFarlane, who has volunteered at several Depave Paradise projects. “We’re all feeling like we can do anything together now that we’ve done that!” (Photo: GreenUP)

“I am so grateful for the amazing volunteer efforts of teachers, school administrators, parents, and student leaders who support Active School Travel PTBO,” adds Lindsay Stroud, Manager of Transportation and Urban Design at GreenUP. “Without these volunteers our active school travel programs could not have engaged over 7,000 participants in 2019.”

“GreenUP Ecology Park was built by the strong support of volunteers from our community,” observes Vern Bastable, manager of Ecology Park. “During my years at Ecology Park we have had a number of spectacular volunteers. I also want to express special appreciation for the GreenUP staff, and their families and friends, who volunteer so much of their time to Ecology Park. The place is magical, but it is the people who make it sparkle.”

Dedicated volunteers, board members, committee members, and advocates have helped GreenUP accomplish so much over the years. This week and every week, we thank you.

 

How you can safely celebrate Earth Day this year

While there are no community clean-up events during April due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you can still do your part to reduce waste and fight climate change, such as by avoiding single-use plastic products whenever possible. (Photo: Earth Day Network)
While there are no community clean-up events during April due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you can still do your part to reduce waste and fight climate change, such as by avoiding single-use plastic products whenever possible. (Photo: Earth Day Network)

During COVID-19, GreenUP is encouraging everyone to celebrate volunteers and the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by following the instructions of Peterborough Public Health. Stay home as much as you can. Practice physical distancing. Wash your hands properly. If you must go out, wear a mask.

I am sad to say that these measures mean there are no Earth Day community clean-up events, but learning how to live in more healthy and sustainable ways is not cancelled. In fact, some sustainability tips and tricks can be quite helpful during COVID-19.

To celebrate Earth Day during COVID-19, GreenUP encourages two things. First, if you are in a position to help essential workers, healthcare workers, and the more vulnerable individuals in our community during COVID-19, please do so. The more we all work together to get through this, the more sustainable our collective efforts will be.

Second, consider celebrating Earth Day everyday by reflecting on your own personal choices and these four categories of waste reduction as you spend more time at home.

1. Consider choices that support a circular economy (re-using) instead of a linear economy (single-use only)

This may seem tricky during COVID-19. For example, we need to respect that many grocery stores are prohibiting re-usable grocery bags and re-fillable containers in order to protect front-line workers and other shoppers from the spread of COVID-19.

Instead, during COVID-19 look for ways to shift away from ownership and towards access. For example, instead of thinking of Amazon as your go-to for purchases and deliveries, consider alternatives like accessing e-books and streaming services through the Peterborough Public Library.

Also, try to re-use plastics and, before recycling them, ensure they are clean and properly sorted according to local requirements. You can learn more at plasticactioncentre.ca.

2. Try some sustainable approaches to maintaining your wardrobe and textiles

Peterborough's Madderhouse Textile Studios owner Leslie Menagh with some of the donated fabric to make headbands and caps for front-line healthcare workers at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. The New Canadians Centre’s sewing collective is also involved in the project, as is Repair Cafe Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of New Canadians Centre)
Peterborough’s Madderhouse Textile Studios owner Leslie Menagh with some of the donated fabric to make headbands and caps for front-line healthcare workers at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. The New Canadians Centre’s sewing collective is also involved in the project, as is Repair Cafe Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of New Canadians Centre)

If you want to repurpose fabrics in your stash, Madderhouse Textiles Studios, in partnership with the New Canadian Centre and Repair Cafe Peterborough, is accepting fabric donations so that local volunteers can sew caps and masks. For more information, visit madderhouse.com/volunteer.

Textiles Tuesday is a Waste Reduction Week in Canada awareness initiative that encourages repairing, repurposing, and donating clothing. For more information, including textile resources, visit wrwcanada.com. Editor’s note: Hold on to any textiles you want to donate, as charities are not accepting donations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Reduce electronic waste

Many of us are relying on electronic devices to work or learn from home during COVID-19.

If you need something, reach out to reBOOT Canada for a repair or a refurbished product before considering a new product.

For a list of available products, visit rebootcanada.ca/shop/.

4. Reduce food waste

Tyler Scott, Chef at Rare restaurant in downtown Peterborough, uses a whiteboard for better grocery and menu planning during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Scott)
Tyler Scott, Chef at Rare restaurant in downtown Peterborough, uses a whiteboard for better grocery and menu planning during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Scott)

Many people are now cooking more at home and reducing shopping trip frequency.

Read our recent article about grocery planning during COVID-19 for tips and tricks that save food and save money.

We are already facing many challenges because of COVID-19. This year it may not be healthy for you to feel pressured to rise to multiple challenges for Earth Day. Instead, let’s work together to find solutions and make life at home during this difficult time more sustainable for us and for the environment.

If you are looking for more tips and ideas, or have some of your own to share, please find us @PtboGreenUP on social media.

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