Keep Evanston Beautiful is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to enhancing the sustainability of life in Evanston through Recycling and Environmental Education.
Evanston, Illinois USA

Volunteer Opportunities

Community Awareness Committee

Chair: Sally Ennis

This committee promotes awareness of Keep Evanston Beautiful environmental projects and their role in the community.

Volunteer opportunities include:

  • Adopt A Spot-volunteer to clean up a little piece of Evanston all year long. Volunteers commit to picking up trash at the spot on a regular basis. KEB supplies the volunteers with bags, gloves and encouragement.
  • Trashbuster month throughout April is a great individual, family, scouting, or school event. Evanstonians gather to pick up a winter's worth of litter. Volunteers are needed to run fun educational activities on waste reduction. All who attend will be given a bag and gloves, and asked to clean up litter in a public area near their homes.
  • America Recycles Day-sponsors fun activities to promote recycling on America Recycles Day, November 15.

Garden Walk Committee

Chair: Pam Howell

KEB's Annual Garden Walk is a more than just a fundraiser. The Garden Walk promotes the best of Evanston's gardens and civic pride.

Volunteer opportunities include:

  • Serve on the committee, which searches for the best gardens in Evanston, plans the publicity, ticket sales and other details of the event.
  • Volunteers are needed the day of the event to be "Garden Sitters."
  • KEB is always on the lookout for outstanding Evanston gardens to feature in future garden walks. (Don't be shy about nominating your own garden.)

Education and School Garden Committee

Chair: Kitty Okano

This group is committed to providing environmental education in the school setting and is open to any parent or teacher in Evanston.

Volunteer opportunities include:

  • School Garden Initiative. Volunteers are needed at individual schools to help implement plans for a garden at the school. Volunteers may be needed for a one-time planting or on a long-term basis. Keep Evanston Beautiful also accepts contributions of plants or supplies for school gardens.
  • Volunteers are needed to help brainstorm and implement ideas that can be used to promote an understanding of natural resources and recycling in the schools.
  • You can sponsor a school garden through financial support or materials. All gardens need gardening supplies such as wheel-barrows, shovels and spades.

Communications Committee

Chair: Nancy Stermer

Contacts the media regarding programs and events.

Volunteer opportunities:

  • Help is needed in writing news articles and press releases.
  • Help is also needed in planning media strategy.

Board of Directors

We seek Board Members with a commitment to our mission. Board meetings are held the second Wednesday in January, March, May, July, September and November. There are opportunities to chair or serve on one of the standing committees and make decisions about programs and expenditure of funds.