Phoenix VA Hosts 2nd Annual Sustainability Fair
The Phoenix VA provides a venue where local schools, organizations, and businesses were able to promote sustainability to Veterans, April 17.
The Sustainability Fair, held at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., brought together 20 organizations, including: Green Environmental Management Systems (GEMS); Donor Network of Arizona (DNAZ); Generated Materials Recycling (GMR); Nutrition, Hospitality and Food Service; Water - LifeSource Water Systems; Goodwill Veteran Career Center; Keep Phoenix Beautiful; Mentally Anonymous; USDA-FSA (Farm Service Agency); University of Arizona Center for Urban Smart Agriculture; Republic Services; Gentiva Hospice; City of Phoenix Water Services Department Environmental and Safety Division; Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona – ReStore; Whole Health; Arizona Students Recycling Used Technology (AzSTRUT); Salvation Army; Arizona Department of Environmental Quality; CaptionCall; and Waste Management that allowed Veterans, VA staff, and Veterans' families to discover a plethora of ideas, concepts, and information on ways to be good stewards of the environment.
This event, held in honor of Earth Day, celebrated on April 22 had more than 1700 people in attendance which was higher than last year’s attendance.
“What we’re doing here at the [Sustainability Fair] is we’re bringing individuals and communities together as well as government agencies to see how we can promote all different aspects of recycling and re using materials,” said Loren Cheel, Phoenix VA GEMS program manager.
The event was organized by the Phoenix VA GEMS Program Manager Loren Cheel, who monitors the medical center’s environmental footprint to ensure the Phoenix VA continues to meet Federal, State, and local standards for air emissions, wastewater, stormwater, and more.
National GEMS policy requires that all VA medical centers adhere to the environmental management principles of stewardship, compliance, pollution prevention, environmental planning, and continual improvement. In general, providing quality healthcare causes impacts to air, land, and water. However, the Phoenix VA Medical Center minimizes these impacts through close monitoring and compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.
Phoenix VA Healthcare Engineer Christopher Smith said, “This was my first year participating and working at the GEMS’ table during the Sustainability Fair. Along with my excitement to give out plants, I got to inform Veterans about our stainability efforts and goals for the upcoming year. This is important because this is one of our initiatives that we have here at the Phoenix VA that’s good for the environment.”
Another first-time attendee, U.S. Air Force Veteran and Phoenix VA Environmental Safety Specialist, Christopher Whited really enjoyed this event. “[The event taught me how to] reinvest into the world that we live in by trying to find smarter ways to sustain the earth. I also got to meet other Veterans and share time and ideas together. Overall, it was a successful event, good vendor turn out, and overall a really good experience.”
Facility Manager Robert Buchanan, echoed Whited and said, “Another very successful event put on by the GEMS committee, enjoyed by Veterans and Staff alike.”
While the event was mainly focused on teaching visitors how to be good stewards of their environment, representatives from DNAZ was also in attendance kicking off their National Donate Life campaign.
Phoenix VA Critical Care Educator and Donor Network Liaison Curtis Cooper remarked, “Along with other Donor Network representatives, I attended with the intent to raise awareness about DNAZ and provide resources for those interested in becoming donors. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the donor recipients (volunteers) share their stories with our Veterans. I also enjoyed helping to dispel misinformation that might discourage people from participating in this wonderful act of selfless service.”
The National Donate Life campaign occurs annually in April. By hosting the DNAZ kickoff event in conjunction with the Sustainability Fair, the Phoenix VA aims to encourage more Veterans to sign up for donation to help save and heal lives through the Carl T. Hayden VAMC’s DNAZ website.
To sign up for donation and transplantation, go to www.DonateLifeAZ.org/DLM.