Town of Babylon Deputy Supervisor Tony Martinez recently joined with New York State Assemblyman Robert Sweeney to commend members of North Babylon’s Robert Moses Middle School Environmental Recycling Club for collecting hundreds of sneakers to be recycled as part of Nike’s “Reuse-a-Shoe” program. The students conducted a week-long sneaker drive to collect the used athletic shoes which were then presented to representatives from Nike’s Deer Park store location. As part of the “Reuse-a-shoe” program, Nike collects used sneakers and recycles rubber, foam and fabric from the shoes to be used in basketball courts, tennis courts, running tracks, playgrounds and soccer fields, as well as apparel.
The Environmental Recycling Club took up this initiative as part of Global Youth Service Day, which is a worldwide celebration of community service and civic engagement. As part of Global Youth Service Day, the Town of Babylon’s Beautification Program works with over twenty organizations and thousands of youth volunteers to work on community service projects throughout the Town. Past projects have included helping non-profit organizations through food drives and monetary donations, collecting food for the needy, visiting local senior citizens centers, making holiday baskets for hospitalized children, conducting community clean-up efforts and assisting local veterans groups in need. For more information of the Town of Babylon’s Beautification Program, please call (631) 587-3752 ext. 6012.
Shoe donations for Nike’s “Reuse-a-Shoe” will be collected at the Town of Babylon’s annual Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, May 3rd. Athletic shoes and sneakers of all brands can be donated but no shoes containing metal, dress shoes or cleats will be accepted. The Town of Babylon’s Earth Day Celebration will be held at Babylon Town Hall starting at 11:00 AM. For more information on this year’s Earth Day Celebration, please call (631) 422-7640.
Pictured with the students from the Robert Moses Middle School Environmental Recycling Club are Deputy Supervisor Martinez (right); Assemblyman Sweeney (back right); Town of Babylon Beautification Director Florence Findley (bottom left); Nike representative Mike McKeon (third from back left); Robert Moses Middle School Principal Kathleen Harnett (fourth from back left); and club advisor/teacher Christopher Brodmerkel (fifth from back left).