MANSFIELD, OH -- Hope Taft, First Lady of Ohio and Mayor Lydia Reid today joined volunteer groups and over 100 Mansfield-area school children to unveil Lucky the Ladybug, Ohio's new litter prevention mascot.
Lucky the Ladybug was developed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention to teach Ohio children the importance of litter prevention and community cleanups.
"Learning to respect and protect our natural world is so important," said Mrs. Taft. "I'm very happy to be here today as Lucky begins her mission of educating Ohio's children about this important cause."
Dubbed "Ohio's First Lady of Litter Prevention," Lucky made her debut during 1 p.m. ceremonies at North Lake Park in Mansfield. A park cleanup followed.
Lucky's message is geared toward children ages 5-11. The seven-spotted ladybug is Ohio's official insect and nature's original litter collector! Ladybugs actively rid gardens of pests and natural wastes.
Beginning this spring, Lucky will travel to elementary classrooms, clean-up events, parades, fairs and special events across the state to share the message of litter prevention.
"We chose the City of Mansfield for Lucky's debut because of its outstanding volunteers and its participation in the Take Pride, Ohio! pilot litter prevention program," said Michael Canfield, chief of ODNR's Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention. "During the year, Take Pride, Ohio! communities use litter prevention, volunteerism and economic revitalization to assist in the cleanup of neglected areas."
Last year, Mansfield volunteers collected more than 93,000 pounds of litter. They cleaned more than 120 parks, highway right-of-ways and neighborhoods of refuse. In addition, they cleared 1,011 miles of city streets of litter. Mansfield Litter Prevention and Recycling and the Richland County Regional Solid Waste Management Authority both have outstanding volunteer cleanup and beautification programs.
Mrs. Taft, Mayor Reid and Lucky also helped the City of Mansfield and Richland County observe April as Earth Stewardship Month. Each year, residents, volunteer groups and businesses clean up and beautify the city's public areas as part of the observation. Last year, more than 3,000 volunteers representing 101 churches, civic groups, schools and organizations pitched in to collect litter, spruce up buildings and remove graffiti.
More than 100 elementary and middle school students from Hedges Elementary, Brinkerhoff Elementary, Stadium Elementary, Carpenter Elementary and Simpson Middle School participated in today's unveiling and cleanup activities.