We’ll confess a reporting bias: we’ve long-term loved what Greenbelt Land Trust does. So, when we learned they would be raising funds at the local Market of Choice through April, we were like, hey, Earth Day happens this month, and they’re a land trust – let’s shamelessly promote this to our readers.
Anyhooo, all through April, like you would expect, you can donate at the cash register. Also, Greenbelt will be tabling at the store from 12 to 4 pm on Friday, April 18th, and Friday, April 25th. They will have native wildflower seed packets to give away, and information about their work.
“We are excited to work with Market of Choice to highlight our work to conserve land and water in the Willamette Valley, and grateful for their support. Greenbelt Land Trust is the local land trust for the mid-Willamette Valley, serving Linn, Benton, Lane, Marion, and Polk counties. We care for 6,200 acres of wetlands, forests, floodplain, and prairie that are permanently protected for conservation. We are actively restoring habitat and increasing access to the outdoors for everyone, and we do it with the support of our members. We appreciate this Earth Month partnership with Market of Choice to shine a light on what we do,” said Matt Benotsch, Greenbelt’s Outreach Manager.
“Market of Choice is supporting local land trusts in each of its communities! Throughout the month of April, customers can donate at the register, and Market of Choice will match donations—up to $10,000 across all stores. The matching funds will be distributed based on the amount each store or region raises,” according to Laura Luthi, a spokesperson for Market of Choice.
Just in case you want to donate land or dollars directly to the Greenbelt Land Trust, you can click here. Shameless on our part to mention it, we know, but we love what we love.
PLEASE DONATE BLOOD
Also shameless, our regularly shilling for your blood. But as regular readers know, promoting area blood drives is baked into our DNA at The Advocate. It’s not often you can be all sedentary and save a life at the same time – which does have an appeal to it.
Rebecca Marshall of the American Red Cross says, “Blood has a shelf life of only 42 days. With no substitute for blood and no way to manufacture it, volunteer donors are essential to patient care. Spring plans can disrupt normal giving patterns, but the need for blood is constant.”
Book a time to give blood or platelets now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Here’s a list of upcoming blood drives.
Tuesday, 4/8/2025: 10 am – 3 pm, Life Community Church, 4900 NW Hwy 99 W
Wednesday, 4/9/2025: 9:30 am – 2:30 pm, Oregon Department of Human Services, 4170 SW Research Way, Suite 120
Tuesday, 4/15/2025: 9:30 am – 2:30 pm, Church of the Good Samaritan, 333 NW 35th St
In Alsea
Wednesday, 4/9/2025: 1 pm – 6 pm, Alsea School, 301 S 3rd St
Besides doing a good thing, all who come to give in April will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $5,000 gift card. There will be three lucky winners. Additionally, those who come to give April 1-13, 2025, will receive a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. All who come to give later in the month, April 14-30, 2025, will receive an exclusive Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. See RedCrossBlood.org/Hope for details on all three offers.
By Mike Suarez
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