The Topeka Zoo Kicks Off a Community Challenge to Collect 8,500 Pounds of Gently Used Clothing and Shoes During Earth Day Celebration
The Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center is excited to challenge the community to help collect gently used articles of clothing and shoes during their Earth Day celebration on April 20th. This clothing drive however has a twist, or a trunk, to it in that this drive is trying to collect 8,500 pounds of gently used clothing and shoes which is equal to the weight of Tembo, the zoo’s African elephant.
The zoo is passionate about conservation as part of their Strategic Plan on Sustainability. The zoo is also passionate about wanting to help Topeka and surrounding communities by combining a clothing drive with reducing the number of textiles traveling to land fill space, and reusing items that can provide for a need in our community. So, for those about to do some spring cleaning, the zoo is asking for your help.
Community members are encouraged to bring their gently used clothing and shoes to the zoo on April 20th , 9:00 – 3:00, and drop them off at the south entry gate to the zoo, just south of Helen Hocker Theater, in the zoo’s new overflow parking lot. Entry to the zoo is not required to make donations to this collection point in the zoo’s parking lot. Undergarments are not being collected at this clothing and shoe drive.
“We’ve been wanting to make Party for the Planet, our Earth Day celebration, an even bigger and better version of itself,” said Dennis Dinwiddie, Director of Conservation and Education at the Topeka Zoo. This effort, spearheaded by Dalton, one of our animal care staff, involves the community in making a difference for our community while also making an environmental impact.
How does this donation challenge add value to Zoo Conservation goals?
Reduces the volume of items going into landfills
Re-purposing or reusing clothing material reduces the resources used to create new clothing
Aiding agencies that are caring for our community makes us a stronger community, lending a hand to other’s needs and helping us all to be more able to respond to environmental needs.
For additional information, contact Dennis Dinwiddie at the Topeka Zoo at ddinwiddie@topekazoo.org, or at 785-368-9134. Or to learn more, please visit our website at topekazoo.org.
