By Gina Browning, Director of Marketing, Public Awareness & Social Media, Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA Area, Inc.
The goal of the Huntington Sustainability Fair Project is to support a vibrant and sustainable local economy. In 2011, Create Huntington volunteers, through the Living Local Project and Sustainable Living in West Virginia, came together to host the first Sustainability Fair at Heritage Station. The fair invites local musicians, artisans, crafts persons, authors and performers, along with Goodwill® and other nonprofit agencies focused on sustainable practices.
Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA Area, Inc. (Huntington, WV) wanted to make the fair more expansive and inclusive event involving more community partners and expand the interest, reach and involvement by providing education and options available to people in the area to increase ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
The 5th Annual Sustainability Fair was a great success, with more than 40 vendors. Several local musicians and artists donated their time and talent for entertainment, and the event included a free yoga class and a bike race (via Tour de Path). Along with this, Goodwill offered various activities, including a recycling event, Tesla and Ford Electronic car displays, discussion of financial sustainability (via Merrill Lynch), a pet adoption station, local food truck vendors, an upcycled art contest, a kiosk that printed t-shirts from recycled plastic, and vendors that offered everything from canned peppers and flowers to local artisan soaps and art. We were thankful to capture the attention of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, as it shot a video and interviewed our CEO and Marketing Director about the event.
“We are excited about the growth potential and looking forward to seeing all that the fair has in store this year!” said Gina Browning, Director of Marketing, Public Awareness & Social Media, Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA Area, Inc.
