Wilton Go Green Recognizes Community Members, Organizations at Annual Awards

On the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 12, Wilton Go Green held its annual awards ceremony, virtually, to honor the individuals who have made exceptional contributions to sustainability in the Town of Wilton over the past two years.

Wilton Go Green board members, Advisory Council, committee members and friends of the town were in attendance along with the honorees.

The following awards were presented for 2021:

• The Green Organization Award was presented to Minks to Sinks in recognition of nine decades of hosting “the biggest treasure hunt in town.” Truly embracing the reduce and reuse mentality, Minks to Sinks has facilitated the transfer of household items to new homes while financially supporting social services programs and reducing waste. Kim Healy, Minks to Sinks co-chair, accepted the award on the organization’s behalf.
• The Green Generosity Award was presented to Buy Nothing Project — Wilton, founded by two working moms in Wilton, Mary Jo Avellino and Maria Stylianou. The Buy Nothing Project’s mission is to give, receive, lend, share and show gratitude in the hyper-local community while increasing connections between neighbors. With over 2,000 members, the Buy Nothing Wilton Facebook group has been inspiring altruism, gratitude and sharing of objects, social services and skills.
• The Green Ecosystems Award was presented to two individuals: Donna Merrill, former executive director of the Wilton Land Conservation Trust, former Conservation Commissioner, and founder of the Pollinator Pathway; and Louise Washer, executive director of the Norwalk River Watershed Association. The two women have been guiding the community in environmental stewardship, community engagement and thoughtful leadership around Wilton’s natural lands conservation work and the pollinator pathway movement.

The following awards were presented for 2022:

• The Green Community Beautification Award was presented to the Wilton Garden Club as it celebrated its 100th Anniversary this past year. The Wilton Garden Club has been dedicated to “providing education, conservation, preservation and beautification in and around the town of Wilton” with its “Making Wilton Beautiful” campaign, educating about the environment, as well as hosting its coveted annual plant sale where garden pots are reused and local plants are the spotlight.
• The Green Student Award was presented to fifth grade student Elyse Pencu who currently serves as “Ms. President U.S. Wilton.” Pencu campaigned on the importance of fighting litter and was honored for demonstrating exemplary leadership skills as she organized Cider Mill School’s first anti-littering contest, collecting over 50 bags of litter from across Wilton as well as inspiring and reviving the town’s Annual Town-Wide Clean Up day in May 2021.
• The Green Town Official Award was presented to Deborah McFadden, who served on the Board of Selectmen for over four years and has always championed the WGG mission. Her guidance in environmental stewardship, community engagement and thought leadership has helped Wilton Go Green set new standards for ecologically responsible living within the town government and among residents.