It is no secret that the freshwater in our region is worth its weight in gold. We are responsible for helping make the marathon as sustainable as possible through reducing supply waste and diverting thousands of pounds of recyclable materials from a lifetime in a landfill.  We have three shifts to fill:  

Saturday, April 24: 8 am – 11 am

Sunday, April 25: 8 am – 11 am

Sunday, April 25: 11 am – 230pm

If you are interested in doing something positive for the planet during Earth Month, the “Green Team” is a great opportunity for you to make a tangible difference.  You can sign up through Mercy Health Glass City Marathon’s volunteer website and look for “Green Team.” All registered volunteers will receive a free Glass City Marathon t-shirt.  Or contact us and we will be happy to register you or your team.  All volunteers are required to wear masks. If you cannot make it to the marathon, please consider supporting us as a charity partner through a donation.  At PCS, we promote healthy runners and healthy rivers!  

Two years ago, Governor DeWine signed a bill into law that designates April as Ohio Native Plant Month. This honor is based on the many benefits that native plants bring to all facets of our environment, including our waterways! Plants native to our region typically have deeper root systems that help stabilize our soils (less erosion), uptake nutrients (fertilizers), and other contaminants before they reach our waterways. Increased soil stabilization and nutrient uptake can help to reduce the algal blooms we are becoming so familiar with here.

There are going to be numerous opportunities to purchase native plants this Spring. The Oak Opening Region Chapter of Wild Ones provides a great list of plant sales for native plant beginners, enthusiasts, and well-seasoned gardeners. Visit this link for Native Plant fun!

AND! While you wait for your cuties to arrive take a pledge about using native plants and increasing pollinator gardens at https://toledolakeerie.clearchoicescleanwater.org/.

If you cannot come out to any of our volunteer opportunities this month, consider making an impact in a different way.  You can feel good about going green by giving green.  We rely on donations and sponsorships to continue to make an impact on our streams, rivers, and Lake Erie.  Your support allows us to purchase cleanup supplies, grow our programs, and expand our efforts in our area.  You can donate directly to PCS with a credit card through our secure PayPal account or by writing a check. Help us do more for the waterways this spring by supporting our programs and our planet!