May 1, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Kids’ recycling project leads to three new benches at local parks

The residents of St. Joseph will have three new benches to sit on.


The village has bought three benches for no more than $1,000 from Prince of Peace Community Early Learning Center and the center has already donated two benches to the village which are at Kolb Park.

The three new benches will be at the Sports Complex.

The Prince of Peace students have been collecting bottle cap and lids which are then turned into benches.

Diane Williams, the Director of Prince of Peace Community Early Learning Center, said students learn collecting, sorting, math and facts about recycling by collecting the lids.


“Any age can partake in it,” Williams said.

The kids are participating in the ABC Program which is a program by Green Tree Plastics for school children to learn about caring for the earth and green living. The children are the primary workers on the project and do the majority of the collecting, sorting and tallying of the weight collected.

When the kids have collected enough caps and lids a bench can be ordered.
Caps that can be collected include medicine bottle lids, milk jug ids, detergent caps, hair spray caps, caps from toothpaste, deodorant, applesauce pouches, drink bottles, ketchup, mustard, spray paint, baby food and shampoo and conditioner.

They can also accept lids from cottage cheese containers, mayonnaise jars, yogurt, peanut butter jars and coffee cans.

Williams said the benches last a lifetime.

Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges said she supported the project.

“It is a great opportunity to work with the early learning center,” she said. “I like the idea that its recyclable and its a good learning opportunity for the village.”

Lids can be dropped off at the village hall lobby or they can be dropped off at the learning center.

“Caps can be brought to our front door, ring the bell, and we can let them in,” Williams said.

in People
Banner
Related Posts

Full STEM ahead for Powers

March 22, 2022

March 22, 2022

Katie Powers wants students to be engaged and excited about STEM topics. The Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient created a...

Area students make Parkland Deans list

June 5, 2019

June 5, 2019

Area students make the Parkland Deans List FithianJazmine L. Rodriguez HomerGracyn A. AllenBrody D. ColeFiona N. ElyLena C. LeonbergerMarissa L....

Allen reflects on state pageant

March 11, 2019

March 11, 2019

Gracyn Allen has been the Champaign County Fair Queen for almost eight months. Her 2019 has included everything from competing...

Duitsman Loschen excited to return to SJO

September 27, 2019

September 27, 2019

Kelly Duitsman Loschen is returning to St. Joseph-Ogden High School today. Loschen will be the guest speaker at the Academic...

Homecoming court senior spotlight… Ross Booker

September 26, 2019

September 26, 2019

On Saturday, Ross Booker could be named Homecoming King. Booker is one of two candidates for king. “I think it’s...

Senior spotlight: Chloe Duckett

May 16, 2019

May 16, 2019

Leading up to graduation, we asked five seniors five questions. Next up is Chloe Duckett! What will you be doing...

10 things you don’t know about me… Gary Page

June 4, 2020

June 4, 2020

1. What is your favorite childhood memory? At the risk  of being boo’d out of town – I will never...

Talk of the Town with SJO head football coach Shawn Skinner

September 27, 2019

September 27, 2019

Every week we ask a school official, village trustee or mayor three questions. This week we spoke to St. Joseph-Ogden’s...

‘ B.J. was one who absolutely stood out’

September 10, 2021

September 10, 2021

We asked Matt Davidson, the former Legislative Director for the Illinois Municipal League for his thoughts on B.J. Hackler. Here...

‘There is no one more deserving of this honor’

June 26, 2020

June 26, 2020

Glenn Fisher loves St. Joseph-Ogden High School. For decades, Fisher’s main concern was that the facilities and sports fields at...

Talk of the Town with SJO Superintendent Brian Brooks

May 9, 2019

May 9, 2019

Every week we ask a village mayor, school superintendent or board member three questions. This week we talked to St....

Welcome home: Parade set to honor Randall

October 2, 2021

October 2, 2021

Lyndsey Leemon is proud of her brother. So proud in fact, she wants to honor him with a parade to...

Get to know Lindsay Rubach

March 25, 2025

March 25, 2025

Lindsay is running for the St. Joseph Grade School Board. What motivated you to run for school board?As an Educator...

How I get it done… Diana Foltz

October 7, 2022

October 7, 2022

We are asking local business leaders how they accomplish goals and run their businesses. We spoke to Diana Foltz, the...

Kids Say….What does farmer do?

January 6, 2020

January 6, 2020

We asked students from St. Joseph Grade School what they think a farmer does each day. Here are their answers....

Comments
Leave a Reply