“Hit the Road Joe” Gets First Green Hero Award from 3REE
3R Environmental Education (3REE) will present its first Green Hero Award at the next monthly CEWAC meeting on Thursday, July 11. The meeting begins at 6pm at Brooks Township Hall, 490 Quarterline Street, Newaygo. Hit the Road Joe has met 3REE’s sustainability initiative requirements for local restaurants and eateries to be eligible for this award. These may include eliminating plastic straws and Styrofoam containers, utilizing energy saving light bulbs and equipment, and even composting appropriate food waste. “Hit the Road Joe has been a Green Mindful business long before 3R’s Green Hero Awards came into place,” states Nick Looman, 3REE Executive Director. “We are eager to recognize them for their eco-friendly efforts as our first awardee. They were nominated by a long-time customer of theirs, Valerie Deur, who reviewed the requirements and application process with Linda Cudworth, owner of the restaurant.” Hit the Road Joe is a unique coffee shop, restaurant and neighborhood meeting place in the Croton area. Located at 9271 Elm Avenue (Newaygo address), Hit the Road Joe offers handcrafted breakfasts, lunches and monthly specialty dinners along with local artisan made jewelry, ceramics and hand sewn crafts. Camp Newaygo Chef Whitney Saylor will also be at this awards meeting to talk about the camp’s “Kitchen Food Waste Composting” initiative. “Camp Newaygo started a Food Waste Composting and animal feed service last year to help make a positive impact in our community,” states Ms. Saylor. “By keeping our food waste separate from our daily trash it cuts down on the amount of garbage in our dumpster, creating less pickups each week, and keeps that usable product out of our landfills. For our Youth campers it helps to show them how much waste each of us creates (as they are watching a bucket fill up) and shows them how to be more sustainable at home as well. For the Farmers it cuts down on the cost of feeding their livestock as they can supplement that with our food scraps.” The Camp Chef states the Food Waste Composting Program fits in with the Camp Newaygo’s mission of creating a safe space for youth to become their best selves. She adds,” To be our best selves we need to do our due diligence to respect the environment and support our local community. By composting our food waste and donating it as animal feed we feel that we are taking steps to do this, and teaching our youth how to take these steps as well.” “The public is welcome to help us honor Hit the Road Joe at our next meeting, and to learn about how our local eateries can have a more positive impact on our environment while serving their customers,” states Sally Wagoner, Co-coordinator of CEWAC – Citizens Environmental Watch and Action Coalition. “If you have a favorite restaurant, we ask you to take 3R’s ‘Green Hero Award’ information packet to its owner, and encourage them to take the steps needed to become a more eco-friendly eatery. If they meet the minimum requirements, 3R and CEWAC will honor them with a Green Hero Award Certificate and positive publicity for their efforts.” The public can obtain a Green Hero Award packet to take to a favorite restaurant by attending the next CEWAC meeting on Thursday, July 11, 6pm at Brooks Township Hall, Newaygo. To learn more about 3R Environmental Education, Recycling in Newaygo County, and Citizens Environmental Watch and Action Coalition, contact Nick at 231.924.5822, nick@3r-education.org, or visit the website at 3r-education.org.
1 Comment
Sally C. Kane
7/2/2019 11:30:26 am
Well done, Hit the Road Joe and Camp Newaygo. Keep up the vision.
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
May 2024
Categories |