EcoAction Arlington December 2023 Newsletter image of a red cardinal in a tree during winter

The holiday season has begun. However you celebrate the season, it is always a joy to give rather than receive. EcoAction Arlington is overflowing with joy with all we have accomplished with your help, whether with the gift of your time or money, and we look forward to continuing our programs and more into the new year. It is a joy giving to you and the community for our environment.

Together we gave Thank You Giving Tuesday logo EcoAction Arlington logo

Thank You!


This GivingTuesday we set a goal of $10,000, and thanks to many amazing donors we were able to raise $10,246! We are grateful for all who give back to us and your continuing support of our mission and programs.


GivingTuesday was a great kickoff, and as we close out 2023, we have much to celebrate. Yet, there’s still a ton more to do. Please help us reach our 2023 year-end fundraising goal of $50,000 by donating by December 31 to support our goal and to contribute to our work to educate, act, and advocate to create a sustainable community by improving our natural environment, encouraging environmentally-friendly behaviors, ensuring environmental justice, and addressing the climate crisis.

Donate Now

Events and Opportunities

Removing Ivy & Canvassing to Promote the Spring 2024 Planting Season

December 8


If you enjoy volunteering and are looking for a fun and meaningful activity, join the Tree Canopy Equity Program in removing ivy and canvassing to promote tree planting. Let's make a positive environmental impact together. The service project, led by Jill Barker, will be held from 1-3 p.m. on Friday December 8 at the Fields of Arlington, 5100 8th Rd. S. Please contact Kisha Sogunro at treeequity@ecoactionarlington.org for more information.

Register

Annual Volunteer Social

January 10


Join us from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on January 10 to meet our board, staff, and volunteers. Get to know us, what we do, and how you can help. Registration required. Light refreshments will be provided.

Register

MLK Day of Service

January 15


In honor of a day on, not a day off, celebrate the day with volunteers cleaning up trash and debris from Four Mile Run at either Barcroft Park from 10 a.m. to noon or Jennie Dean Park from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Groups welcome. All ages are welcome, but children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration required.

Register
ecoaction arlington logo smiling people sitting in chairs in a circle blue wave green wave with the text overlay Join the EcoAction Arlington Board Apply by January 17

EcoAction Arlington Board Openings


EcoAction Arlington seeks board members who share our passion to educate, act, and advocate for the environment in Arlington. Board members, once elected, serve a two-year term (minimum) beginning the 1st of April.


Apply by Wednesday, January 17 by completing an Expression of Interest Form. Read more about the roles and responsibilities here.

Read More

We're Hiring


EcoAction Arlington is hiring passionate individuals for exciting roles:


  • Part-time Communications Manager
  • Part-time Tree Equity Community Ambassadors


Please visit our website for more details on the positions and how to apply.

Read More

Get Free Trees


Apply for a free tree with our Tree Planting Program.

Applications open through January 5.

Apply for a Free Tree
EcoAction Arlington staff and board members in front of the Giving Machine

The Giving Machine

at Ballston Quarter until January 1


We're thrilled to be part of the 2023 Light the World Giving Machines, a unique vending machine sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. People can donate to six local and global charities, including EcoAction Arlington. EcoAction Arlington will be at Ballston Quarter on December 8 stop by and say hi. Find us and the Giving Machine near Macy's right next to Santa.


On December 8, every donation at the Giving Machine comes with a $10 discount on your Compass Coffee order.

Watch How it Works

Stormwater Utility


Beginning in 2024, Arlington County is changing how the stormwater program is funded. The current sanitary district tax will be replaced with a Stormwater Utility fee based the amount of hard surfaces on a property. Apply for credit through January 15 on your upcoming utility bill. Learn more by visiting the county's website.

Read More

Gift Giving Guide

Looking for a way to give back to the community? Here are two resources to help you decide where to donate your time or money.


The Nonprofit Wish Catalog is back and with a new purpose: raise awareness and funds for smaller-budget Arlington nonprofits. Spread the love, and shop the Catalog now through December 31.

Arlington Magazine’s Guide to Giving 2023 was compiled with help from the Arlington Community Foundation. It lists organizations based in Northern Virginia which provide critical services to the immediate community.


EcoAction Arlington is honored to be among the wonderful organizations featured in the catalog and the guide.

Ting Waymouth EcoAction Arlington Program Manager

Welcome Ting Waymouth

EcoAction Arlington Program Manager


Ting joined EcoAction Arlington in October. Ting moved to northern Virginia in 2021 and has been actively involved in local volunteering and organizing for climate since then. She lives with her spouse, two young children, and their dog. Ting is enthusiastic about a broad range of environmental solutions, from composting to building electrification. 

Welcome Kara Simon

Outreach Assistant


Kara joined EcoAction Arlington in October. Before joining EcoAction, Kara owned and operated Loving Heart Holistic Wellness. She has served on several board of directors and steering committees over the last ten years, in which she assisted with event planning, community outreach, and engagement. She is passionate about the environment, plants, and cultivating community. In her spare time, she loves photography, painting, and taking care of her houseplants. Kara moved to Arlington in 2020, and lives with her husband and adopted dog, Mando.

EcoAction Arlington in the Community

volunteers at 10-28-24 cleanup at Barcroft park

On October 28 volunteers from Oracle and the First Church of Christ, Scientist cleaned up about 30-gallons of waste & recyclables, plus one e-scooter at Barcroft Park. The cleanup was doubly impactful because our data will be shared with Virginia Clean Waterways and the Ocean Conservancy, who can share it with policymakers, local and state governments, and others working to reduce litter and debris.

Volunteers on 11-5-2024 cleanup at Jennie Dean Park

On November 5 the Rock Spring Congregation and 24 dedicated participants joined us, and together, we cleaned up approximately 210 gallons of trash and 30 gallons of recyclables along Jennie Dean Park & Four Mile Run.

On Giving Tuesday, November 28, EcoAction Arlington and Mastercard volunteers worked with pre-K and Kindergarten classes at Fleet Elementary with lessons on pollination.

How Do You #TakeEcoActionArlington?


We'd love for you to share how you #TakeEcoActionArlington. Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and use the #TakeEcoActionArlington hashtag for a chance to be featured in our next newsletter! You may also send photos with 2-3 sentences on "Why I Volunteer" or "How I take EcoAction" to volunteer@ecoactionarlington.org.

Interested in volunteering with EcoAction Arlington? Don't miss our Volunteer Social on January 10. Register today!

Community Spotlight: Penrose

Penrose is bordered by Route 50, Washington Blvd, Columbia Pike, and Walter Reed Drive/Fillmore Street. It is a community with a variety of housing and is resplendent with public parks and spaces for recreation. There are three public parks located throughout the neighborhood: Towers Park, Penrose Park, and Butler Holmes Park. Must Try: The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant, Arlington National Cemetery Tour, Penrose Park. Running errands on foot is easy in Penrose, with a Walk Score of 77/100 and it is very bikeable with good public transportation. Its tree canopy is 29%.* It has a Tree Equity Score of 89. 


*Urban Tree Canopy Assessment 2017

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The EcoAdvocate!

The EcoAction Arlington Advocacy committee publishes The EcoAdvocate periodically. The newsletter includes news and updates on advocacy initiatives at the county and state levels, and other information of interest.

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