Last Green Valley to help fund local river clean-up events

The Last Green Valley will provide funds to nonprofit organizations and municipal, regional, state or federal agencies that sponsor a 2013 Earth Month or river cleanup in the region this spring.

Last year, more than 1,000 volunteers removed about 12 tons of trash from rivers, parks and roadways in the 35-town region of the Last Green Valley. Organizations will be reimbursed up to $500 for expenses such as publicity, cleanup supplies such as trash bags and work gloves, and food for volunteers. The Last Green Valley also will  help publicize the event and work with organizations to recruit volunteers.

Interested organizations should submit a letter to The Last Green Valley on their organization’s letterhead at least six weeks before the proposed event. The letter should include basic details about the cleanup, plus contact information, including an email address. The letter should explain what the group hopes to accomplish, provide a budget detailing how The Last Green Valley funds would be used, say who will be picking up and disposing of the trash; describe how youth will be involved in the cleanup; and include a plan for publicizing the event and the results. Nonprofit organizations also should submit a copy of their 501(c) designation letter from the IRS.

For information, contact Lois Bruinooge at (860) 774-3300 or at: lois@tlgv.org.