How to Give Back Locally on Earth Day

Earth Day is the holiday to celebrate our planet earth and sharing information about how to preserve our precious planet. Here at Giving Local, we believe that making the planet a better place to live directly affects the people who live on it, and future generations to come. Whether you are looking to do a full-fledged beach clean up today, or you are looking to pick up that extra piece of trash that didn’t make it into the trash bin, make a difference today!

Check out our featured environmental charities to see some great charities that give back to Mother Earth on a regular basis.

• Heal the Bay
• Tree People
• Endangered Habitats League
• Global Inheritance
• Planet Lunchroom

Planet Lunchroom: “Greenovating” Lunchrooms and Providing Fun, Green Curriculums

Planet Lunchroom works to change the environment in which kids learn, and teach them to save the environment in which they live. Their main goals are to (1) improve the environment, (2) promote eco-education, (3) shift towards green lifestyles, (4) create a mentality where kids feel the need to “pay-it-forward” and (5) make each school LEED certified.

1. Improve the Environment: According to CNN.com, “the state of America’s 97,000 public schools is dire.” Planet Lunchroom hopes to beautify and make more efficient the space in which children eat at school. Most of the students they serve get their one-and-only hot meal per day at school. Energy efficiency is a great step towards taking the pressure of budgets and allowing schools to allocate their resources elsewhere.
2. Eco-Education: Through increasing green literacy, students will not only learn, but understand the importance of fixing the environmental issues.
3. Green Lifestyle Promotion: Planet Lunchroom will give students the tools and tips they need to live green. They will be able to apply this knowledge to all aspects of their lives.
4. Pay-it-Forward: Students will feel the responsibility to set an example in their communities and encourage green lifestyles for every person they encounter.
5. LEED Certification: Along with tax cuts and other breaks from the government, LEED certified schools show a positive correlation between building conditions and student achievement.

Sustainability for the Future

Planet Lunchroom dedicates themselves to providing Lunchroom Greenovations and sustainable school-wide exercises that teach children to reduce trash, to teaching children to compost (totaling 31 million pounds of food waste per district composted!), and to creating a living laboratory where real-world examples of green living will not only be taught but also applied.

Giving Back to Planet Lunchroom

Contact Planet Lunchroom for specific volunteer opportunities where you can help out a local public school.

You can also donate to Planet Lunchroom.

They can be contacted at 3717 S. La Brea, Suite 315, Los Angeles, CA 90016. You can call them at 323.306.6161.

Global Inheritance: Inspiring Others to Think Creatively In Solving World Issues

“Our unique initiatives focus on the power of creativity to communicate issues with audiences that need a kick in the butt.”

Empowering people to think and act creatively to solve global issues like global warming, the energy crisis, and the need for alternative fuels, Global Inheritance has spent the last 10 years using technology, the arts, and interactive materials to inspire people to be responsible with their choices. From using a reusable water bottle to recycling their cars, Global Inheritance takes a unique and creative approach to mobilize the masses and educate many.

Inspiring the Youth: Coachella 2011 Plans for Sustainability

Global Inheritance has been around for many years transforming music festivals, and Coachella 2011 will be no different. With their eighth year at the well known Indio festival, their 2011 plans include the EnergyFACTory with the infamous Energy SeeSaw; the TRASHed @ Coachella 2011 contest where the Greatest Recycling Bin Collection wins free VIP tickets and outfits a school of their choice with the coolest recycling bins ever; the 10 for 1 bottle recycling centers where Coachella-goers can turn in 10 empty water bottles for a new, full, cold one to encourage keeping the campgrounds clean; and CARPOOLchella where a car with 4 or more people might win VIP tickets to Coachella for life.

All of these fun activities teach the importance of saving our environment, but also highlight them in a fun way, encouraging people to participate.

Join Global Inheritance

Does this charity seem like it is the perfect fit for you? Are you a creative person who also loves the environment? Volunteering with Global Inheritance would be a great fit for you. Volunteers join in at the music festivals across the world. See a list of upcoming programs and shoot them a message.

No time to volunteer? Donations are always welcome as well.

Need to contact them? They are located at 1855 Industrial St. Suite 613, Los Angeles, CA 90021. You can also email them at info@globalinheritance.org or call them at 213-626-0061.

Endangered Habitats League: Dedicated to Ecosystem Protection and Sustainable Land Use

The California Condor is an endangered species.

The Endangered Habitats League (EHL) works to protect the sensitive and vulnerable ecosystems in Southern California. Another one of their goals is to protect sustainable land use for the current and future generations for all of the inhabitants.

Their three goals include:

• Securing native landscapes where divers wildlife lives
• Pushing towards sustainable human communities
• Saving rural and agricultural lands from sprawl

Through strategic planning and collaboration, they are working to save nature.

Endangered Species in California

California is home to a lot of unique native species of plants, grasses, and animals. From the abalone to the grizzly bear to the California condor, amazing and unique animals are in danger of being completely wiped out from existence.

Some animals that have already become extinct in California include the Law’s diving goose, the southern Californian kit fox, the American lion, American bison, and the grizzly bear. Animals like the white abalone and the California condor are endangered.

EHL works to push towards saving animals and their natural environments from human impact. Many animals like sea lions, mountain lions and bobcats have had their habitats destroyed by humans moving too close or adding pollution.

The white abalone is also an endangered species in southern California.

Support EHL

The best way to give back to the Endangered Habitats League is through a donation. The foundation grants provide some funding – but the Endangered Habitats League is primarily dependent on donations from generous people. The funding covers travel, phone bills, legal help, insurance, etc. Contribute today to curb urban sprawl, push for environmentally-friendly policies and preserve habitats.

Donate today to the Endangered Habitats League.

You can contact Dan Silver, Executive Director at 213-804-2750 or email him at dsilverla@me.com. The Endangered Habitats League is located at 8424 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite A 592, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Tree People: Be Smart and Learn to Live Green

Tree People works to grow a sustainable future for Los Angeles. The believe that nature can heal Los Angeles, and people and technology can be united through the power of trees.

In order to motivate the masses, Tree People pushes to get people to take personal responsibility for the urban space by teaching them the importance of making it safe, fun, healthy, and sustainable. Tree People wants Los Angeles to stand as an example for the world as to how a modern city should be.

A Long Journey Ahead

Tree People realizes that there is a lot of work to be done in Los Angeles. A main obstacle with preserving Los Angeles through nature is what to do with areas like buildings and parking lots where you cannot plant trees?

Tree People believes that the way to promote sustainable living in these areas is through permeable paving, French drains, swales, rain barrels, and other forms of technology that imitate the functions of a self-sustaining forest.

Together with technology, people, and trees, Tree People believes that we can turn an urban setting into a sustainable environment that will give future generations what they need.

“Be the Change… Be the Inspiration…”

Volunteering is one of the best ways to move Los Angeles towards a green city. Tree People volunteers transform Los Angeles communities one-at-a-time to healthy urban ecosystems. See the many volunteer opportunities available with Tree People.

Don’t have time to volunteer? That’s okay. You can donate, dedicate a tree, or become a member of Tree People.