December 2025

ECO-PARENT NEWSLETTER

Happy Holidays!

As we wrap up another meaningful year, Dream in Green is excited to celebrate this season with our amazing students and families. ❄️🌿 Their growing passion for the planet has been the peak of our year! Every recycled item, energy-saving habit, and creative eco-project has added up.

During the holidays, we invite you to keep that spirit going at home with simple, earth-friendly choices: mindful gift wrapping, reusable décor, and energy-wise celebrations. Small steps make the season brighter for everyone, including our planet.

Thank you for your support and partnership. Wishing you a joyful, warm, and sustainable holiday season! 🌍

Do you believe in a greener future?

Support our year-end fundraiser today.

Click Here to Donate

Opportunities for Parents & Teachers

Become an Organizer!
Poetry Out Loud® lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. Help students improve public speaking skills, build confidence, and grow their appreciation for poetry. In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the 2025-2026 Poetry Out Loud program will focus on poems that celebrate the rich tapestry of American history and culture. Find Out More

Opportunities for Students

Green Career Speakers

This month multiple speakers will focus on Water Quality & Conservation professions in two, hour-long webinars

Time: 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 am.

Dates: Dec. 15th & Dec. 16th

Design & Build Competition

Attention HS students - Register for this year's challenge to design a net zero school. Two teams per school & materials reimbursement provided.

Deadline: Jan. 9, 2026

More Info Here

Coding Competition for Girls

Great opportunity for girls to show off their coding skills and win fun prizes! Various Individual and Team competitions available including animation, game design, and more. More Info Here

Deadline: Feb. 2026

Upcoming Events in the Community

Community Action Day

Get your volunteer hours working alongside UF/IFAS Extension's Urban Horticulture Program staff and Master Gardener Volunteers.

Time: 9 a.m. - Noon

Date: Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

More Info Here

Rain Barrel & Water Conservation

Learn how to harvest rainwater when it is abundant to help reduce pollution from stormwater runoff and purchase a rain barrel.

Time: 1 pm

Date: Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

More Info Here

Toy Drives

Donating new toys during the holidays can advance environmental stewardship. By choosing gifts with intention—high-quality items that are durable, educational, or sustainably made—donors help reduce waste and promote mindful consumption.

Below are a few to check out!

Miami Eco-Adventures: Various drop-off locations in MDC parks (community service hours available).
NBC6 and Telemundo 51: Drop off your donations at the US Marines Reserve, 18650 NW 62nd Ave, Hialeah, FL 33015
World's Largest Toy Drive @Kaseya Cent er: Donate toys, board games, video games, sports equipment, stuffed animals, bikes, books, coats, shoes, headphones, scooters, art kits, gift cards, and pre-stuffed stockings for teens.

Donate Food for Families in Need

Food drives are essential to both sustainability and community well-being. At a time when many families face real food insecurity, redirecting shelf-stable items to local pantries ensures that nutritious food reaches households immediately rather than ending up as waste. This not only reduces the environmental impact of discarded food but also strengthens the local safety net, allowing community organizations to respond quickly and efficiently.

Local food assistance resources:

Call 211 or use their online directory for food assistance.
The Buddy System has 10 community fridges in Miami-Dade County. Food is stocked weekly at most locations.
Free Food Distributions | Farm Share | Food Bank - Farm Share calendar lists all food distributions by area in Florida.
Feeding South Florida – The regional food bank serving Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties.
The Salvation Army of Miami – Distributes weekly grocery-bags of fresh produce and shelf-stable items.
Jewish Community Services South Florida (JCS) Kosher Food Bank – Serves kosher food, by appointment.
Overtown Food Distribution — Health in the Hood - Dec. 13 next distribution.
Village of Allapattah YMCA Family Center | YMCA OF SOUTH FLORIDA - Open daily

Featured Eco- Craft

DIY Gift Wrapping

Making your own gift wrap isn’t just creative, it’s greener! Using materials you already have at home, from newspapers to fabric scraps, also reduces waste and cuts down on the single-use paper that often ends up in landfills.

Get Directions Here

Looking for more resources? Visit our Website

Disclaimer: This newsletter contains hypertext links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. Dream in Green does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.

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