Magnolia CoolMoms promote Fuel Free Routes to School
The Magnolia CoolMoms received a $13,145 grant from the city of Seattle to promote
and expand the Walking School Bus programs at two Magnolia schools:
Catharine Blaine K-8 School and Lawton Elementary.
The
grant will go toward
creating and installing "No Idling" signs at the two
schools as well as 20 city-approved Walking School Bus (WSB) signs along
five walking routes for each school. The Magnolia group is working with
the Seattle Department of Transportation to produce the signs.
The
program is part of CoolMom.org's mission to help stop global warming
at the local level by encouraging students to walk to school instead
of being driven. A pool party, parade entry, and WSB t-shirts, were among the incentives for kids and adults participating in the program. The pool party was donated by Magnolia CoolMom and Ship To Shore business owner, Lorraine Betts.
Sonja
Ling, Magnolia CoolMom and CoolMom.org assistant director, said the program is just as much about
building a concerned community as helping the environment. "By
promoting the WSB (Walking School Bus), we will foster a community
culture that views walking as a viable and healthy transportation
alternative," she wrote in the project application to the city.
Kirsten
McCaa, Magnolia CoolMom and CoolMom.org director, said the program also
gets the children involved. "Kids feel good taking action to
stop global warming because it is their future that's at stake. We
need to teach our kids that every trip doesn't have to begin in a
car."
Both
Blaine and Lawton already have walking programs in place, but are
limited in scope. The Magnolia CoolMoms are working towards a goal of having the programs offered five days a week, on five routes, at both schools.
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