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Fifth graders in Mrs. Klecker's and Mr. Nordby's class are hoping their efforts in the Lakeside classrooms will directly improve the lives of animals thousands of miles away.

The students are leading efforts to reduce the amount of plastic bags that are put into the waste stream, and worse, sometimes make their way to lakes and oceans where animals die from eating the toxic plastic.

In recognition of Earth Day April 22, the students are sponsoring a reusable bag fundraiser and a "Say No to Plastic Bags" week, April 19-25.

The Chico Bags they are selling can hold up to 25 pounds and will be sold for $5 each. They can be purchased in four colors: black, red, green and mango.

From each sale, the school will profit $2.50. Some of the money will be donated to environmental charities, and some will be used to purchase next year's school supplies.

Students were given the responsibility to explain the project to other Lakeside students, through the development of a Power Point presentation. They presented their talk last week to the other classrooms at Lakeside. In their own words:

"Lakeside students are raising awareness by having a fundraiser where we will sell Chico Bags. Chico bags help the environment by cutting down on the amount of plastic bags which fill landfills quickly, and has many other detrimental effects to the environment and wildlife. Plastic bags photo degrade, which is where the bag breaks down into smaller toxic bits. The harm done to sea life is terrible. Thousands of sea turtles, whales, and many other marine mammals die from eating the plastic bags that get into the water, which they mistake for food. Our solution is the Chico bag, a reusable bag that helps the environment. Our Chico Bags hold up to 25 pounds.

On average reusable bags save 6 bags a week, 24 a month, and 286 a year per person.

The money we raise will be used in two ways. The first is that we will donate money to an environmental cause/charity. The second way that funds will be used is to buy classroom supplies for next school year.

We are also sponsoring a weeklong event of saying no to plastic bags, April 19-25. Please join us in our effort to save the environment."

Mrs. Klecker also organized clean-up days during Earth Week. Several classes will participate by cleaning up the school grounds, local parks and bike trails.

For more information on purchasing a reusable Chico shopping bag, call Heidi Klecker at Lakeside, 213-2300, or email: [email protected].

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