TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen in Terre Haute, Ind., has been awarded a $3,500 grant from International Paper’s Terre Haute Mill and the International Paper Foundation. The funds will go towards creating a more eco-friendly kitchen with biodegradable containers, bags and flat ware, according to a news release.
Currently, the soup kitchen uses Styrofoam and plastic which take a heavy toll on the environment through manufacturing and landfill loading, the release said. The EPA estimates one million tons of Styrofoam items were detected in municipal solid waste landfills in 2018. Polystyrene does not biodegrade and can be incredibly toxic to wildlife and ocean life, while its disintegration can cause greenhouse gas emissions.
“The Creation Care Team at St. Margaret Mary Church are so happy to help St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen become more eco-friendly by applying for this grant on their behalf,” Sarah Knoblock, creation care team leader, said. “We applied for this grant because the need is great in our community for, not only places where residents can get food assistance, but also more sustainable practices that will leave the environment unaffected. This grant is a small step toward making the Soup Kitchen more eco-friendly.”
Started in 1952, the International Paper Foundation annually provides millions in grants to nonprofit organizations to address critical needs in the communities where its employees live and work. Funding priority is given to programs related to its signature causes: education, hunger, health & wellness, disaster relief and initiatives that improve the planet.
For more information, visit ipgiving.com.
