Invest in Our Planet: Support Earth Day April 22, 2022

 

Invest in Our Planet: Support Earth Day
April 22, 2022

InnerAct Alliance is excited to celebrate Earth Day on Friday, April 22, as part of the annual environmental protection initiative that began in 1970 and has grown to include events coordinated globally that involve 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. Going Green can lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, which help protect the environment we live in and sustain our natural resources for current and future generations.

Our agency is proud to support local Earth Day initiatives highlighted in the City of Lakeland's Access Lakeland newsletter with fun outings for the whole family which include visiting the Se7en Wetlands, Lakeland's own functioning ecosystem with varied species of plants and animal wildlife on over 1,600 acres of marshes, swamps, and lakes on W. Carter Road in Mulberry (open 7:00 am to 7:00 pm daily), or attending the Drive Electric Earth Day event on Saturday, April 23, at Munn Park in Lakeland (open 9:00 am to 1:00 pm) to learn about electric vehicles (EVs), stroll the Lakeland Farmers Curb Market, and enjoy local restaurants and outdoor cafes.

InnerAct Alliance and our coalition partners, StandUP Polk and UthMpact, are happy to join the City's Lakes and Stormwater division and Keep Lakeland Beautiful, Inc. in efforts to beautify Lakeland by encouraging, educating, and promoting public interest in environmental efforts to support litter control and prevention.

To keep our community clean and litter free and encourage healthy lifestyle choices, we share proactive social norms messages and educational facts with teens and adults through prevention programs and special events to help discourage cigarette smoking and support efforts to quit smoking, which may lead not only to dangerous health problems caused by tobacco but also create major pollution and litter issues from discarded cigarette butts. 

           

Additionally, we host two medication take-back events in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and local law enforcement agencies each spring and fall to encourage citizens to turn in unused or expired prescription or over-the-counter human and pet medication for safe and proper disposal so they do not end up causing potential substance abuse or harm to our county's beautiful lakes and ground water. 

The next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will take place on Saturday, April 30, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, at 8 locations in Polk County for citizens to turn in unused, expired, or unwanted Human and Pet Medications in liquid and solid forms, vitamins, and syringes for proper disposal. E-cigarette devices and JUULs will also be accepted at police department locations on Take Back Day. All medications should be placed in a clear, air-tight plastic bag. 

Drop off locations are: 

Auburndale Police Dept. - 2 Bobby Green Plaza, Auburndale, FL
Bartow Police Dept. - 240 North Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL
Haines City Police Dept. - 35400 Highway 27, Haines City, FL
Lakeland Police Dept. - 219 N. Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland, FL
Lake Alfred Police Dept. - 190 N. Seminole Ave., Lake Alfred, FL
Lake Hamilton Police Dept. - 100 Smith Ave., Lake Hamilton, FL
Lake Wales Police Dept. - 133 E. Tillman Ave., Lake Wales, FL
Winter Haven Dept. - 125 N. Lake Silver Dr. NW, Winter Haven, FL

Unwanted medication may also be taken to the country's permanent drop sites, funded by GiveWell Community Foundation, at Police Department locations in Auburndale (weekdays 8-5); Haines City (weekdays 8-5); Lake Alfred (24hrs/7days); Lake Hamilton (weekdays 8-5); Lakeland (24hrs/7days); and Winter Haven (weekdays 8-5). Please note: only solids are accepted in permanent drop boxes (no liquids or syringes). 

InnerAct Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and licensed prevention provider for substance abuse prevention in Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties. For information on IAA's local programs and events, please visit www.inneractalliance.org. Please also support the City of Lakeland’s Keep Lakeland Beautiful initiative and visit www.keeplakelandbeautiful.org.