FREE YOUR FRIDGE
Is that old refrigerator in your kitchen, garage or basement sucking up gobs of electricity? If so, now is a good time to get rid of that inefficient appliance, save some money on your power bill, help the environment and get an extra little bonus for doing so. City Water, Light & Power is now accepting refrigerators manufactured prior to 1997 for its Refrigerator Roundup program, which offers a $50 reward to customers who trade in old, working refrigerators. Previously, the program only accepted appliances manufactured before 1993. About 2,600 such appliances have been recycled through the program so far, keeping recyclable materials from ending up in a landfill. CWLP says old appliances can use two to four times as much power as new appliances, and can cost customers anywhere from $30 to $175 annually. The utility partners with Appliance Recycling Centers of America (ARCA), which offers free pickup of old, working refrigerators and air-conditioners. For more information or to participate in the program, call ARCA at 1-866-899-9862 or visit
www.refrigeratorroundup.com. For questions on other CWLP energy efficiency programs call the CWLP Energy Experts at 789-2070 or visit
www.cwlp.com.
GREAT FIRST DAYS
July and weather that feels like summer may only have just arrived, but school is just around the corner. In preparation, community members are organizing a supply drive for students in Springfield, Pawnee and Auburn school districts to ensure that every student is ready to learn on the first day back at school.
Every year since 1993, the First Day Fund program has supplied about 1,500 Springfield students with school starter-packs. This year, however, demand is up, and the organization needs additional donations to meet its goal of 1,850 packs, says Rev. Dr. John Charlton III, First Day Fund director. Each pack costs about $20.
The group will hold a “Stuff-the-Bus” drive on July 23 and 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Springfield’s South Sixth Street Wal-Mart. A volunteer packing day will be held on Thursday, July 28 at Bill Matthews Auto Body.
To contribute to the fund, send donations to “First Day Fund” at 2401 S. Ninth Street, Springfield, Ill., 62703.
