#GivingEveryTuesday: Environment
Each Tuesday, SHARE Omaha features a unique cause theme for #GivingEveryTuesday and encourages our community to give and support in any way we can! This week's #GivingEveryTuesday theme is the Environment. Hear about these passionate nonprofits below and help fund their work!
Green Bellevue
Derek Michael Dillon, communications coordinator at Green Bellevue, shares, "We believe it’s important to support environmental nonprofits financially because by nature, nonprofits rely on the goodwill of organizations and people."
Green Bellevue is working to be a strong resource for people who are interested in “living green,” being more sustainable in their daily practices, learning to be better stewards of the environment, and championing very important movements- such as reducing waste and pollution through recycling and composting and promoting the use of native plants which is so important for biodiversity and pollinator health.
"We need to continue to reach people and change hearts and minds about a better way of living through various 'green' avenues. We need people who are driven, passionate, and willing to take action. Volunteers are always a heavy need for every organization. To make some of our future visions a reality, we need individuals willing to help us build it," says Derek.
Fontenelle Forest
Bridget Hanson of Fontenelle Forest shares, "Community support allows us to provide fair wages to our employees and cover the overhead expenses that most grants don't cover. Without our staff, our mission cannot be accomplished."
Fontenelle Forest is a place that allows people to escape from their everyday stressors and connect with nature. Not only do they provide a green space for our community, but they're also consistently working to restore and sustain our native habitats for future generations to enjoy.
"Support through visiting or becoming a member! This is the easiest way to support the Forest while also getting to experience the benefits of spending time in the outdoors," says Bridget.
Camp Rivercrest
Andy Dykhouse, executive director of Camp Rivercrest shares, "Outdoor, environmentally friendly places are hard to come by in cities. It's important that the community take part in preserving places that protect the environment."
They believe that most people struggle to focus on what matters most. So, they create the space to focus on God and each other. "It's easy to focus on yourself, and most people do, but if the metro area was more focused on God and others, it would be a much better place."
"Volunteering at Camp Rivercrest enables our staff to get more done. We have lots of outdoor projects, but especially landscaping and firewood processing, The lamps on our wish list are needed most," says Andy.
Omaha Permaculture
Erin Crnkovich, operations manager of Omaha Permaculture shares, "From the air we breathe to the food we eat to the places where we lay our heads at night, everything we touch is connected to our environment, and environmental issues impact us all. Environmental nonprofits like ours work at the community level to reimagine how we interact with our environment so that we can meet the needs of today without jeopardizing the needs of the future."
Omaha Permaculture's mission is to foster community through sustainable land stewardship. They do so primarily by taking vacant lots in the North Omaha area and turning them into edible landscapes. From their urban food forest to their community gardens, they are creating space for people and wildlife to thrive! Their headquarters, known as the GreenSpace, is also home to several garden beds and a flock of chickens. Thet provide all produce and eggs sourced from their GreenSpace to partner organizations who directly serve low-income individuals by providing meals and/or food pantry items.
What is one thing needed from the community? Erin says, "Awareness! There are so many small actions we can take, even in our own backyards, to reduce our environmental impact. Mowing less frequently, seeding native grasses, installing rain gardens, planting shade trees to reduce our summer A/C usage- every little bit helps! We are always in need of gardening tools- hand trowels, shovels, pitchforks, clippers, etc. as well as sturdy work gloves. We do as much work as possible by hand, so these items sustain a lot of wear!"
Audubon Society of Omaha
Julia Rawnsley, administrative support of the Audubon Society of Omaha shares, "It is so vitally important that we support nonprofits that help the environment because there is so much important work to be done. Development and negative impacts from our cities and businesses are constantly contributing to habitat loss. We need all hands on deck to help care for our natural world, both to enhance the functioning areas we have, and to offset the damage that is perpetually occurring. Environmental nonprofits like Audubon Society of Omaha help to reconnect the community to the ecosystem that sustains us. A society that understands the significance of the land's ecology, is a community that will work to find sustainable solutions to prioritize its longevity."
Audubon Society of Omaha helps to connect the Omaha community to our natural heritage. They steward two remnant prairies in and around the metro. Every year they hold countless field trips where people can get out in nature and learn to identify the wide diversity of birds that share a home with us! They also provide educational programming throughout the year covering a wide array of environmental topics from pocket prairies to deep dives on wild turkey populations. Finally, through their upcoming Bird Art Show, hundreds of kids learn to appreciate the diversity of birds in their backyard as they artistically depict them for the contest.
"One thing we need for our community is a new canopy tent. Our old one was completely destroyed at last year's Earth Day Omaha event when high winds snapped its frame. A canopy tent helps us to get information about Audubon's mission and vision to the general public," says Julia.
Donate to Audubon Society of Omaha
Choose your ways to donate today and support nonprofits supporting the Environment in the greater Omaha/Council Bluffs metro!