News Releases from Region 04

FRIDAY: EPA and Mississippi Valley State University to Host Earth Day Program on Campus

ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) together with Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) will host a day-long Earth Day celebration on Friday, April 22, 2016.

The events will kick-off with an Earth Day Symposium for MVSU students from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Science and Technology Center. University President Dr. William B. Bynum Jr. will host the program which will feature remarks from EPA Regional Administrator Heather McTeer Toney.

Nationally, EPA’s focus for Earth Day is on preventing food waste with the theme, “Feed People, Not Landfills.” EPA Program Coordinator Thornell Cheeks will provide an overview of the Food Recovery Challenge, which encourages organizations to pledge to improve their sustainable food management practices and report their results. Participants prevent and divert wasted food in their operations and, in doing so, they save money, reduce their environmental impact and help communities by donating nutritious, leftover food to feed hungry people.

Following the formal program, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., volunteers are invited to participate in a service project at the Interfaith Community Kitchen in Greenwood, Miss. Participants will bring food items donated by MVSU to the local food pantry.

From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Reverend Brandon Bigelow will lead a Spiritual and Wellness event in the Jacob Aron Student Union – Royal Room. Students are invited to join a group Zumba class and spiritual exercise.

Lastly, volunteers will gather between 4 and 5 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club (rear of MVSU campus) to help plant a community vegetable garden. The garden will be cared for by the MVSU Boys and Girls Club, and the fresh produce will be donated to the MVSU Child Development Center.

WHO:

Heather McTeer Toney, EPA Regional Administrator for the Southeast;

Thornell Cheeks, EPA Region 4 Food Recovery Challenge Program Coordinator;

MVSU University President Dr. William B. Bynum Jr.;

Dr. Kathie Stromile-Golden, MVSU Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs/Director of International Programs;

Reverend Brandon Bigelow, Director of Religious Life; and

David Dallas, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of the Mississippi Delta

WHAT:

Earth Day at Mississippi Valley State University

WHEN:

Friday, April 22, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST

WHERE:

Various locations on MVSU campus (see above)

RSVP:

***Credentialed members of the media please RSVP to Maxine Greenleaf at max.greenleaf@mvsu.edu or 662-254-3577. The event is open to the public.

Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4

And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast