The Giving Program
We want to hear your thoughts on how to help the world thrive
How the Giving Program Works
Your Ideas
Tell us how Wilbur-Ellis can continue growing, innovating, giving and evolving
Support
For each response, Wilbur-Ellis will make a donation to the Red Cross
Giving More
Help grow our contribution by answering new questions every month
April Question
April 22 is Earth Day – an annual observance that highlights the importance of protecting the environment. For over 50 years, millions of people around the world have celebrated Earth Day.
This year, in honor of Earth Day, the April “Giving Program” question for kids and adults asks:
What can individuals do – and what are you doing – to help protect the environment?
Submission Deadline: April 30, 2021
Submit your responseTips for answering
Tell us about the things you do – big and small – that help protect the environment. Maybe you …
- Recycle plastic, aluminum, and paper,
- Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth to conserve water,
- Flip off the lights when you leave a room to reduce energy use,
- Ride your bike more, so you can drive less and use less fuel,
- Compost food waste, or just avoid wasting food, so fewer resources are used to produce the food we need.
Whatever you do, tell us about it. Along with your responses, photos and artwork are much appreciated. For each response from adults and kids, Wilbur-Ellis will donate to the Red Cross, and kids who submit outstanding responses could receive $200 USD awards or $50 honorable mentions.
Message Board
Check out our special Message Board, where Wilbur-Ellis employees, kids and friends of the company saluted everyone in the food and agriculture industries, recognizing National Ag Day and Week in March.
April Submission Highlights
Trista Mills, United States (Nutrition)
We wanted to help reduce food waste sent to the landfills. So this past year we added a worm box to our garden. Those little munchers not only eat up our processed food scraps, but also love our carbon based foods like yard debris and cardboard box pieces. By supplying them with food, we are throwing away less and get great worm casting to add to our garden. It’s a win-win!
Helen Leung, United States (Corporate)
I don’t try to change the world, but I’ll try to change my ways. My focus is reducing plastic:
– Instead of liquid soap, I went back to bar soaps
– Instead of shampoo from bottles and tubes, I use shampoo bars (Trader Joes, Lush, Walmart)
– I forego the lids and straws when getting to-go coffee and other drinks
– I forego the single use utensils when ordering to-go meals
– I forego condiments if I already have them at home (ketchup, soy, etc)
– I make it my mission to reuse the plastic containers at least 3 times
– I use plastic lids from food containers to cover all leftover foods in my fridge (eliminating plastic wrap)

Jeff Hershberger, United States (Agribusiness)
Grow a garden in my backyard.

Suzanna Jasmin, Singapore (Connell)
Use Reusable Bags
Plastic grocery-type bags that get thrown out end up in landfills or in other parts of the environment. These can suffocate animals who get stuck in them or may mistake them for food. Also, it takes a while for the bags to decompose.
Rebecca Sutton, United States
I have stopped using my electric dryer, shower every other day, compost and recycle. I shop from locally raised food and will grow some of my own this year.
Helping the Red Cross in the U.S., Canada and Globally
United States: Through our 100th Anniversary Giving Program, Wilbur-Ellis is supporting the American Red Cross in the United States.
Globally: To assist those in Asia-Pacific, Giving Program donations will benefit the International Services division of the American Red Cross, which helps victims of countless crises around the world through immediate and long-term support, including supplies, technical assistance and other assistance.
Canada: Our Giving Program also will assist the Canadian Red Cross with the work they do throughout that country.