Environmental stewardship and giving back to the communities where we live and serve are part of everyday life at DTE Energy, but when these efforts combine, it can be a powerful thing.
During Earth Month, DTE volunteers focus on caring for the environment in ways big and small. From tree plantings to park cleanups to staffing events, team members gave back across Michigan all month long.
This year, the volunteerism team wanted to provide employees a unique way to care for the Earth and their communities. DTE job sites across southeast Michigan accepted clothing donations to support local charities during Earth Month. This was more than just a chance to do some spring cleaning – donating unwanted clothes instead of throwing them away also reduces textile waste in landfills.
Volunteers sorting clothing donations
“Earth Month is really important to DTE as a whole because it’s about sustainability,” said Whitley Young, volunteerism program manager in Community Engagement. “It’s important to offer different volunteer opportunities for things that people are passionate about – like park clean ups – but we also like to provide opportunities for people who can’t go do those things. This clothing drive gave everybody the chance to do their part for Earth Month.”
The drive donated clothes to Baldwin Center in Pontiac, King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit, Samaritas Family Center in Westland and YCS Resiliency Center in Ypsilanti, making a difference for both the environment and for people in need.
“This was a great opportunity for DTE to be supportive and help the communities it serves,” said Chris Matus, principle program manager in Community Engagement. Samaritas, one of the charities who received the clothes from the drive, is in the region he serves. “This donation will really be appreciated and useful, providing things directly to the people who need it the most.”
Check out these highlights of other ways DTE was out in the community this Earth Month:
- Stony Creek Metropark Earth Day Cleanup: Volunteers in Shelby Township pitched in to fix up the park, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the outdoors in a clean, welcoming environment.
- Traverse City Tree Planting: This Natural Gas Balance sponsored event brought volunteers together at Traverse City’s Civic Center to plant 10 trees which will beautify the area, while capturing carbon and lowering ground temperatures in the summer.
- MDOT Roadside Cleanup: Volunteers in China Township collected trash and debris from along the roadway.
- Monroe County Earth Day Expo: At this event, volunteers shared information about how to plant the right tree in the right place, handed out sunflower seeds for people to grow their own garden and helped children plant flower and vegetable seeds to take home and enjoy.
- Corktown Cleanup: Volunteers beautified this Detroit neighborhood so the community can enjoy the outdoors as weather warms up.
- Horses Haven: At this Howell organization that rescues, rehabilitates, retrains and rehomes at risk equines, volunteers fed, watered, cleaned and moved horses to help give these animals a better life.
- Adopt A Road: A Milford Township road was cleared of litter to help the environment and create a more beautiful space for community members.
Every activity was part of DTE’s mission to care for the environment and neighborhoods through Earth Month and beyond.
“I think it’s fantastic that DTE is a company that is engaged with the residents it serves,” said Matus. “We have a larger responsibility; we are a productive part of the community and helps create positive energy.”