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BY JAN STONE –
The Salvation Army Las Vegas Stars (Socialization/Pre-vocational program for Young Adults with Disabilities) recently took part in the international environmental effort, Earth Day 2000. This was an all-day event with booths set up to house displays. Earth Day this year focused on the saving of fossil fuels, with the suggestion of using public transportation.
Since Stars ride the bus most days, they decided to challenge everyone they knew to take a bus ride and let them know the day and place of the ride. As the challenges were sent in, the Stars mounted them on a large bus placard, which they then displayed in their booth at Sunset Park.
Serving on the planning committee were John Bare (Nevada Power Co.), Lee Brasted (Challenger Newspaper), Sam Lieberman (Advisory Council member from Senator Harry Reid’s office), Valerie Lockheart (Regional Transportation Commission), Cheryl and Terry Mouland and Jennifer Seiler (The Salvation Army), and Jacob Wood (Sigma Chi fraternity, UNLV). Funding the budget for the endeavor were Kerr-McGee Foundation Corporation, Nevada Power Co., and the Regional Transportation Commission.
Challenges came back from a wide variety of people and places, including Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, French student Henri Buchard, and an elderly couple from California, Peg and Bill Moran. Over 700 people in our city, state, and country responded. We got bus ride dates from all over the world, thanks to Canadian Sharron Bonnar’s web page.
Why does a group like the Stars plan an Earth Day project? They had two goals: to help Stars realize they are part of a world beyond walls and disabilities, and to help the environment by encouraging people to try mass transportation.
Thanks to committee, friends, staff, and families, they accomplished both!