Wilton School Kids Give Back to the Community

Written by Marketing Intern Victoria Hanson

Learning from a young age to appreciate those around you and to appreciate what you have is very important.  Giving back to those you benefit from is equally important.

For the kids at Wilton Schools in Connecticut, they understand the importance of their school teachers, and what the community offers.  In response, they wanted to give back and strengthen their community.  Through establishing Bottle Up! for Wilton Schools, students gather recyclables, take them to a recycling plant and donate the proceeds.

As superintendent Dr. Gary Richards says, “These six students had a vision for their project and they worked had to make their vision a reality.  Their commitment speaks to their concern for our world and a belief in the importance of giving back to their community.  At a very early age, they have learned about the value of protecting our environment while also supporting our schools.

Students gather bottles, cans, and other recyclables all year long through the Wilton Go Green Festival and other events.  They learn about helping our planet, about giving back, about volunteering and about managing a bank account to store the collected money throughout the year.

The next step for these students was making presentations to other community organizations in hopes of expanding their cause.  Successfully, the Wilton Education Foundation has adopted the fundraiser and is working with administrators in establishing the program through Wilton’s others schools.  

Although Wilton school kids value volunteer work, and got involved early on, their message can benefit anyone:  Giving back not only strengthens the community, but benefits its members as well.