Collecting plastic bags may seem like an unusual school project, but for Kingsview Christian School students, it’s been a lucrative one.
“There’s not a bag that can escape our Kingsview kids when they are out and about,” said Kingsview Administrator Rick Wetherell.
The students gathered enough shopping bags and plastic wrap to fill about 690 60-gallon bags between Jan. 1 and March 31 for the Wal-Mart’s Kids Recycling Challenge. The feat won Kingsview the honor of being named the second-place regional winner, not to mention a more than $5,000 paycheck.
The program allows educational institutions to collect plastic bags for recycling. Wal-Mart pays $5 for each 60-gallon bag of bags collected. This month, staff for the Coos Bay Wal-Mart gave Wetherell a check for $3,480 for the effort. The school also will get an additional $2,000 for taking second place.
“I thought ‘How many millions of those could you collect?’ You realize how many plastic bags there are in the world out there,” Wetherell said.
Hillcrest, Madison and North Bay elementary schools also participated in the challenge.
Wetherell said everyone at his school was involved, including family members and friends.
Lindakaye Burch’s fourth-grade class was particularly instrumental in the effort, as well as Larry Baker, the president of the school’s advisory board.
The project not only brings money to the school, which educates 150 students. It also teaches them valuable lessons.
“It’s a win-win-win. The kids get to work for their school, they get to learn about the environment and how to keep it healthy. And they also get to perform Christian service in our community,” the administrator said.
Ever the competitor, Wetherell hopes his school will be named the first-place regional winner in 2009. The school won third place last year.
“I think we would have liked to be first place and next year we will be. ...We’ll be ready.”
(Staff Writer
Jessica Musicar covers North Bend. She can be reached by calling 269-1222, ext. 240; or by e-mailing to
jmusicar@theworldlink.com.)
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