Smithtown's Rachel Gladstone "Run For Recycling" June 13

Rachel GladstoneThe 5K Race and a half mile fun run for Recycling is set for Sunken Meadow on Saturday, June 13. The fun run begins at 9:15 am and the 5K at 10 am. The race is the brainchild of Rachel Gladstone a junior at Smithtown HS West. In addition to being a student, Rachel is a runner, an environmentalist, a Girl Scout and a problem solver.

While running at track meets at Sunken Meadow Park, Rachel realized that the trash bins at the park were often overflowing with plastic water bottles and sports drink bottles. The bottles were being discarded with regular trash which she believed was both wasteful and unnecessary. Familiar with recycling, Rachel did some reasearch and learned that there were no bins for recycling the bottles at Sunken Meadow. She dug a little deeper and learned that the cost for recycling bins is around $200 each. 

Rachel took ownership of the issue. Not one to walk away from a challenge she realized that this would make a great project for her Girl Scout Gold Award and would benefit the park.

The Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouts and has rigourous requirements for planning and implementation of a project.  It is suggested that the candidate plan to spend at least 80 hours on their project. No problem for Rachel since she has been working months on the planning and organizing of her Race for Recycling event.  

One of the original concerns, how to get approvals for the bins and approval for the race, was addressed when Park Director Jeffrey Mason embraced the project. He assured her that the donated bins would be appropriately placed and the contents would be properly disposed of by the park staff. 

There was still a lot more for Rachel to do. Getting people to participate, getting sponsors and letting people know about her event were difficult challenges.  Rachel has been reaching out to runners at various track meets handing out flyers and asking people to join her. She has been going to local businesses to ask for their support and continues to do so.  

Rachel’s goal is to purchase as many bins as possible. Initially she was hoping to raise funds to purchase ten bins which she believes will make a tremendous difference in the park. Although she  is not certain that she will meet that goal, which she acknowledges is ambitious, she is well aware that she is bringing attention to an important environmental issue.

According to National Geographic, “for every six water bottles we use, only one makes it to the recycling bin. The rest are sent to landfills. Or, even worse, they end up as trash on the land and in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Plastic bottles take many hundreds of years to disintegrate.” Recycling bins at Sunken Meadow, one of New York State’s most visited parks, will make it easy for people to recycle and hopefully bring more awareness. 

Doing something for her community is what Rachel Gladstone is most proud of, walking away from a challange is not an option for this smart young woman, “we all have to do what we can and not leave it for others to do.” is how Rachel Gladstone looks at the project and problems in general. 

Rachel Gladstone is a high school student, a problem solver, Girl Scout and a young woman Smithtown can be proud of!

Join Rachel this Saturday, June 13 at 10am at Sunken Meadow Park. Bring the kids and show them how they too can make a difference.

Download race application