Keep Jackson Beautiful celebrates Earth Day
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DOWNTOWN JACKSON, Tenn. — Jackson looks a little more beautiful this Earth Day thanks to the help of a local organization. Thousands in attendance at Jackson’s Earth Day Festival were able to learn how to green up their lifestyle. “We’ve had so many people come through just learning different things about what’s going on in the local community and how they can help be green even in a small way,” co-chair of Keep Jackson Beautiful John Griffin said. Griffin said in the festival’s second year downtown, the goal to grow each year is on track. “This year already we’re almost double the size we were last year,” Griffin said. Griffin estimates throughout the day, 10,000 people stopped by, and efforts to make Jackson greener have been successful. “We’ve seen massive improvements in recycling and reusing, you know lots of the schools are now promoting recycling and reusing projects,” Griffin said. One of those schools displaying its work Saturday was Jackson Christian. “It’s a way for us to take what we already had around and make something new and beautiful out of it,” sixth grade science teacher Ryan Taylor said. Taylor said what’s most impressive is the students creativity, “sixth, seventh and eighth graders can make whatever they want as long as they use 75 percent recycled material.” Some who attend every year said it doubles as a day of fun and a learning experience. “I think it’s good how they’ve been able to incorporate fun aspects of this day and teach children,” Ellen Bennett said. Griffin encourages residents to do one small thing every day to help the community. Organizers with Keep Jackson Beautiful said this is the biggest and they spend all year working towards it. If you want to learn how to become a volunteer visit www.cityofjackson.net/keep-jackson-beautiful.
