Garcia's campaign bags some green
Contributed by Shayna Katzman

Rosewood Market owner Basil Garcia donates a check for $546.20 to Deloris Perry, development director for Harvest Hope Food Bank. The funds were a direct result of dimes Garcia placed in collection boxes on behalf of every customer that declined a bag or brought their own to Rosewood Market.

On the patio at Rosewood Market, Saturday April 16, Basil Garzia proudly announced results of the natural food store's most recent environmental campaign entitled "Do something fantastic quit wasting plastic!"

Our total since February 29 is 8,190 bags saved from the landfill. That's an annual savings of 72,000 bags," announced Garzia to crowds who gathered for Rosewood Market's Earth Day Celebration April 19.

Rosewood Market representatives have physically thrown dimes into collection boxes stationed at registers in- store since Feb 29 on behalf of every customer who declined a bag or brought his own. The total number of dimes was then donated to Harvest Hope Food Bank at last Saturday's event.

Deloris Perry, development director for Harvest Hope Food Bank, gladly accepted the resulting $546.20 check on behalf of the organization. This check represented 5,462 dimes that accumulated during the six- week campaign period.

"Do something fantastic, quit wasting plastic" campaign has focused on reminding ourselves that we can conserve in a small way each day and together work toward a larger goal," Garzia said. "This is an effort on Rosewood Market's part to encourage our patrons to carry their groceries home in a re- useable bag. To me, it's a reminder of our need to tread more lightly on the earth."

Garzia also announced Rosewood Market has recycled over 975 telephone books to date (approx. 180 cubic feet of landfill space), and the store will continue to accept telephone books for recycling at the front door.

Anne Sinclair and Eric Ward were among local environmentalists present at this Earth Day event. Both addressed the crowd with inspirational speeches regarding ways that individuals can do their part "to make Columbia a greener place to live."

To kick- start this initiative, Rosewood Market gave away 500 I love being used and canvas totes to the I love being reused first 500 people who arrived in- store February 29. This was an incentive for patrons to carry their groceries home in re- useable bags.

For further information contact Basil Garzia, Rosewood Market 2803 Rosewood Drive, 803 765 1083 or visit www.rosewoodmarket. com.