Fifth-grade students at Sinsheimer Elementary School in San Luis Obispo were able to raise $1,500 for a community project by working with Junk Girls, a local business. Through this partnership, the students learned important life skills in business and were able to create products to sell. The funds raised were donated to ECOSLO, the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo.

On Arbor Day, the students and ECOSLO collaborated on a tree planting project at Sinsheimer Park. This experience was meaningful for the students as they were able to see the impact of their hard work and fundraising efforts. Genevieve Palazzo expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to work with Junk Girls and ECOSLO, stating that it was heartwarming to see their dedication to helping the environment and supporting the students’ entrepreneurial aspirations.

Another student, Sophia Bastidas, echoed Genevieve’s sentiments and highlighted the incredible collaboration between Junk Girls and EOSLO. According to Grant Helete, program coordinator for EOSLO’s Urban Tree Planning “Keys for Trees” program, partnering with schools and organizations on projects like this is part of their goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2035. This experience taught the students valuable business skills while also instilling in them a sense of environmental stewardship and community responsibility.