On Feb. 11, the University of Maine hosted Greendrinks of Bangor to educate students and community members on sustainability surrounding their initiative. Greendrinks hosts regular events in hopes of raising awareness around their organization’s goals, as well as to raise money for their organization.
According to Bangor Greendrinks, their primary objective is to offer family-friendly events where community members can celebrate local businesses dedicated to sustainability. All of its events focus on growing sustainable local businesses and provide a great opportunity to network with professionals from throughout the greater Bangor region.
Greendrinks is an international organization working to increase sustainability worldwide. There are cities all over the world that work with Greendrinks, and Bangor just recently started partnering with the organization.
The event was open to students and community members interested in learning about ways in which they can take part in sustainability movements. Speakers discussed ways in which UMaine could visibly go greener, as well as discussed ways to create a more sustainable campus.
Greendrinks provided compostable cups to encourage sustainability. However, the organization also encourages that guests bring their own reusable vessel for refreshments at events hosted by Greendrinks in the future.
The event was hosted in collaboration with UMaine’s Stein Society’s Brewer Nights, as well as Orono Brewing Company. The money they raise at every event goes right back toward Green Grants, which is managed and allocated by Greendrinks. These grants provide the resources for local businesses to expand and integrate more environmentally sustainable practices into their businesses.
Every second Tuesday of each month, Greendrinks hosts an event around the area to promote sustainability. Each event invites community members to drink refreshments and enjoy snacks, based on sustainable products, all provided by Greendrinks.
In the greater Bangor region alone, Greendrinks has granted over $44,000 to invest in sustainability solutions. The grants which Greendrinks provides are products that become visible within the community. This happened in 2019, when Greendrinks worked in collaboration with Bangor Savings Bank and created the second edition of the Trails and Map guide. The guide was a result of a $3,250 grant that was allocated to the Bangor Savings Bank in order to provide this resource to the community.
Greendrinks has worked with the city of Brewer as well to provide sustainable community options, and granted money to the municipal office in order to provide bike racks for the community. On the Brewer Riverwalk, there is now a fish-shaped bike rack for community members to share. Through initiatives that make sustainable activities and products more accessible to local communities, Greendrinks is able to assist as communities adapt to sustainable lifeways.
For those interested in learning more or getting involved in Bangor Greendrinks, visit their website at https://bangorgreendrinks.org/.
