Earth Day volunteers needed

Apr. 13—GREENSBURG — Volunteers for the April 22 Earth Day Community Clean Up are needed to help spruce up Greensburg City Park, the downtown area and Rebekah Park.

Sponsored by Main Street Greensburg, Decatur County Parks and Rec., the Decatur County Health Department and Decatur County Recycling, the day of pitching in and picking up is a great way to show pride in the community.

The day of the event, tents will be set up at all three locations. Gloves, grabbers and garbage bags will be available in those tents. Volunteers must sign a waiver before participating. Safety vests will also be provided.

The event will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and five volunteers are needed for each hour at all three locations. Register at www.signup.com/go/qQjxApk.

"Just go to the site and sign up for what hour you want and what location you want," Decatur County Recycling Executive Director Stephanie Westbrook said.

Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, and is now observed by more than 1 billion people in more than 193 countries.

According to Wikipedia.com, John McConnell proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace at a United Nations' conference in 1969.

McConnell wanted the first be observed on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere.

This day was later sanctioned in a proclamation written by McConnell and signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations.

A month later, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed the idea to hold a nationwide environmental teach-in on April 22, 1970.

He hired a young activist, Denis Hayes, to be the national coordinator. Nelson and Hayes renamed the event "Earth Day."

The official theme for Earth Day 2024 is "Planet vs. Plastics."

For more information about Decatur County Recycling, go to www.decaturcountyrecycling.com/ or look for them on Facebook.

Contact Bill Rethlake at 812-651-0876 or email bill.rethlake@greensburgdailynews.com.