COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Earth Day was started in 1970 as a way to raise awareness and support for environmental issues. The non-profit organization Green Columbus organizes the largest Earth Day volunteer service opportunity in the country.

This year, Green Columbus set a goal to plant 20,000 trees. They want to plant 300,000 trees in all by 2020.

Looking to help out on Earth Day? Here are some volunteer efforts that still need a hand.

  • Beatty Community Recreation Center – The rec center is looking for people to mulch, weed, prune and spruce the flower beds at Beatty Community Recreation Center. Nine more volunteers needed.
  • Monarch butterfly garden – Everyone involved will help create pollinator attracting habitats around the perimeter of a community garden. Volunteers will also help unload donated materials, plant perennials, sprinkle seeds, mulch and pick up litter.  This group is asking for 129 more volunteers.
  • New Albany Community Garden – Volunteers will mulch more than 200 square feet at the community garden and help amend the soil. Activities also include starting composting bins and working on common gardens. Forty-five volunteers needed Friday and 20 on Saturday.
  • Thomas Worthington High School – Volunteers will help mulch and plant boxwood and flowers around the front entrance of the high school. They will also pick up trash from the front lawn along 161. This effort needs 49 more volunteers.
  • Ravine clean up – Volunteers will help clean litter from the ravine behind Lucky’s Market at 2770 North High Street. They are asking for 27 more volunteers.
  • Stratford Ecological Center – The Stratford Ecological Center in Delaware will be working Saturday to plant over 1,000 trees and pull garlic mustard. Still room for 96 more volunteers.
  • Wesley Ridge Woodland Restoration – The retirement village in Reynoldsburg is working to restore a woodland back to its natural habitat. Volunteers are needed to help clear out invasive species, clean up brush and plant native seedling trees and shrubs. They are asking for 40 more volunteers.

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