Anti-Idling Pledge Drive Aims for Environmental Awareness
A common site at many schools—cars left running while waiting for the kids—is something the district hopes to curb.
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For the second year, the district is hoping to alert parents to the environmental effects of a simple activity—cars left running as parents drop off or pick up students from school.
Throughout April, the district will host an anti-idling pledge drive, encouraging families, staff and drivers in the community to turn off their engines while waiting at bus stops, in front of schools and at other locations. Dubbed “Turn the Key—Be Idle Free”, the pledge drive began April 8 and will continue until April 29.
In the spirit of preserving the environmental, the district will be taking electronic pledges rather than paper documents during the drive’s duration. The pledge link is available on the district’s website, www.hillsborough.k12.nj.us.
At the end of the drive, all electronic signatures will be tabulated and the school with the highest percentage of families pledging will win a park bench, donated by Lowe’s Home Improvements, and a tree, donated and planted by Ambleside Gardens.
In addition, all participants who pledge will be eligible for $10 certificates from local businesses, including Dunkin Donuts, Applebees, Super Sundaes and Petrock’s.
The district’s transportation department is also endorsing local, state and national anti-idling programs, according to the district.
The pledge drive follows efforts the high school’s Tree Ring Club made last year regarding cars idling in front of the schools. During the first year, the school district signed its first anti-idling awareness resolution, while students worked to bring attention to the environmental damage caused by idling cars.
This year, Girl Scout Troop 392 joined the cause as well and is working with other local troops to promote the anti-idling efforts at the elementary, intermediate and middle schools.
Thuy Anh Le
3:04 pm on Monday, April 18, 2011
It's wonderful that the Recycling Club at HMS, the Tree Ring Club at HHS, Daisy, Brownie, and Cadette troops 60644 and 392, and Boy Scout Troops 186 and 1776 are supporting the Turn the Key - Be Idle Free campaign at different Hillsborough Schools. BoroGreen members fanned out to local businesses to ask for prize donations from Ambleside Nurseries, Lowes, Applebees, Petrocks, Dunkin Donuts, and Super Sundaes. More prizes are needed because participation of 250+ pledges within the first 3 days of the contest exceeded planning expectations! Contact info@borogreen.org if you can provide a $10 gift certificate. Two permanent signs have been installed per school at pick up and drop off locations under the direction of Director of Facilities, Dave Frusco. These signs were ordered from the NJ DEP and donated by GeoGenix, Inc., a solar company, when they first learned about anti-idling efforts at the 2010 Sustainable Hillsborough Family Fair.
NKS
12:25 pm on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
This is the last week to take the Anti-Idling pledge! Turn the key; be idle-free! When I spoke to my son's cub scout pack, they knew immediately that keeping the car on when you're not going anywhere was bad for the earth and a waste of money and gas. Sign up your family and you might win a prize! Thanks to all who have taken the pledge and cut down on their idling!
Thuy Anh Le
3:45 pm on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
530 pledges now and it's a close contest between the 3 schools with the highest number of pledges! Last day to pledge is this Friday. Go to http://www.hillsborough.k12.nj.us and click on the green car.
Jayne Mochnacz
8:00 am on Thursday, April 28, 2011
Great Job with the pledge count! Next step...put signs up at the banks' drive through. Most banks even have drive up ATMs.
Pieter B. Ruiter
2:00 pm on Friday, April 29, 2011
Today is the last day to pledge anti-idling. Let's surprise everyone with lots of pledges, and no more idling, perhaps?
Eileen Oldfield
3:18 pm on Friday, April 29, 2011
I wanted to pledge, but I have no kids! D'oh! Have to go for the unofficial effort!