In honor of Earth Day and part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums “Party for the Planet” initiative, this past weekend, The Elephant Sanctuary hosted a Community Cleanup in its hometown of Hohenwald, Tennessee.
The event gathered 25 people to pick up trash and recyclables around the historic downtown area. This activity was hosted in partnership with the Hohenwald/Lewis County Chamber of Commerce, the Lewis County Government and other community organizations, with support by the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Litter Grant Program and its Keep Tennessee Beautiful campaign. All participants received an elephant stamp on their hand which they could present at various local restaurants, stores, and other merchants (including the Elephant Discovery Center) for discounts and other thank you gifts.
Earth Day neatly coincided with one of The Sanctuary’s regularly scheduled Volunteer Days, so volunteers who had travelled from all over the United States happily pitched in to help too.
80 bags of trash were collected, and plastics, aluminum, and cardboard were sent to be recycled. In addition, participants from all over the state had the chance to explore The Elephant Discovery Center and learn more about elephants as a keystone species, sustainable palm oil, and The Sanctuary's mission. We are thankful to all who participated in this and other Earth Day beautification projects in their own communities around the world!
