Sylvania Franciscan Connections will host the 13th annual Zero-Waste Lunch on Monday, September 29, from noon to 1:30 p.m., in the Franciscan Center.
The lunch both honors the feast day of St. Francis (October 4), the patron saint of ecology, and launches Campus Sustainability Month. This event brings together the Sisters of St. Francis, Lourdes University, Sophia Center, Rosary Care Center, Our Lady of Grace Hall, Convent Park Apartments; eighth graders from St. Joseph School, Sylvania, and invited public officials and community guests.
Special guests include Sylvania Mayor Mark Frye, members of the Sylvania City Council, Molly and Scott Thompson from Elevated Energy and Bridget Burgess of Hirzel Farms, who has provided composting for food scraps for previous events. As the campus is now celebrating the ongoing construction of a new solar carpark, they have invited guest speaker Tom Giest to share his journey in bringing renewable energy to his home in the Old West End.
Each year, the lunch serves as a model for sustainability by showcasing how hundreds of people can gather for a delicious meal, have a great time and, intentionally, send zero—or nearly zero—trash to the landfill.
In what has become an annual tradition, an ecothemed art project will be on display. Campus artists Keven Quire and Christine Deemer created eight largerthan- life sunflowers using repurposed materials found on campus.
Parking is available adjacent to the Franciscan Center, at 6832 Convent Boulevard, Sylvania.
