Associates Have a Field Day to Celebrate Earth Day
April 30, 2012
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Associates, Community
The Horror, the Horror – Warehouse associate Brendan Portschy encounters a despicable dump site at the Columbia River Slough in Oregon. Portschy, who works at the Portland Parts Distribution Center (PDC), celebrated Earth Day by purging trash from the river’s edge.
What on earth were they thinking?
Actually, they were thinking about the Earth. And what better time to focus on the planet than Earth Day?
At Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) headquarters, associates relinquished almost 4,000 pounds of e-waste and 2,195 pounds of clothing and household goods. They also attended an Earth Day Fair, where company associates and community organizations shared their environmental efforts.
Field associates also celebrated Earth Day, which was April 22. Some cleaned actual fields, while others brought environmentally advanced vehicles to the concrete jungle. Still other associates participated in educational activities in the workplace.
Here’s a sampling of their activities:
Portland Pick-Me-Up – Wielding orange trash pickers, Portland Toyota Logistics Services (TLS) and PDC associates display their bounty at the Columbia River Slough: 163 pounds of trash, including an RV septic tank. From left are Brendan Portschy, John Thomas, Nate Terra, Celeste Gude, Pam LaDick, son Brandon LaDick and Mari Helenihi. Also helping was photographer MaDonna McClain.
Digging In – TLS Princeton associates help students plant a tree at their school in Indiana. Associates planted trees at two schools, where each of the 250 students shoveled some soil and learned about Toyota, Earth Day and Arbor Day.
It’s in the (Eco) Bag – A can crusher, energy-saving light bulbs and rechargeable batteries fill reusable grocery bags awarded to Joean Berry (left) and Roger Smith (right), who won an environmental puzzle contest at North American Parts Center, Kentucky. Safety Task Force Champions Craig Jackson and Julie Halcomb (center) helped plan the Earth Day activities, which included distribution of eco-friendly cups to all associates with a pledge to eliminate their use of Styrofoam cups.
Sea Change – Laura Carrion, Toyota de Puerto Rico environmental, health and safety administrator, shares the story of PDC associates Axel Almedina and Victor Nunez, who removed bottles and other debris from the ocean while snorkeling. Associates also learned about hybrid vehicles and participated in an environmental trivia contest.
Prius Goes Square – To Times Square, that is. TMS’ New York Region coordinated the appearance of Prius family members at the CO2 E Drive, which was part of the Earth Day New York celebration.
By Susan Pack