Girls Inc. program aims to save trees

LYNN – As candidates for mayor prepare for the final two months of campaigning, teens from Girls Inc. and Part of the Solution Youth Council are running a sticker campaign of their own – one that they hope will help city residents realize the importance of saving trees.Nearly two-dozen teens from the two organizations took to the streets of downtown Lynn Tuesday afternoon, kicking off what they call “Environmental Sticker Shock,” a community service effort designed to raise awareness about consumption and conservation.The teens placed about 50-100 stickers and magnets that read “This sticker will save 100 pounds of paper each year,” on paper towel dispensers in several participating restaurants and retail businesses in the city.The goal is to remind people reaching for the paper towels to conserve and use air dryers instead where available, part of an overall effort to continue the ‘going green’ movement.The effort is in line with the National Day of Service on Friday, Sept. 11, a community service initiative established this year by President Barack Obama.”President Obama asked youth to participate in community service projects to help out this year,” said Catherine Dhingra, Girls Inc.’s coordinator of prevention programs. “It is actually in line with the National Day of Service, which is Sept. 11, but the group is doing the project a little bit early. It is actually something that Girls Inc.’s cross the country are doing.”The teen volunteers made the stickers and magnets at Staples and then contacted local businesses to pitch the idea. In all, Dhingra says the group is hoping their project will result in the conservation of thousands of pounds of paper this year.”The group put out about 50-100 stickers and magnets where businesses didn’t want the stickers on the paper towel dispensers,” she said. “The goal is to save between 5,000-10,000 pounds of paper.”