Pill Bottle Collection Initiative
Our 4C STEM Club is leading a pill bottle collection initiative to support global health and sustainability. The bottles, collected, cleaned, and donated by Adhya Garlapati, go to various organizations, art centers, schools, and pet shelters. Through this initiative, Adhya has personally handled over 38,245 bottles, demonstrating compassion, environmental responsibility, and youth leadership to make a meaningful impact.
Together, small actions can create a big impact. Thank you for supporting our mission!
Shoes Collection Drive
The 4C STEM Club is proud to support the MORE Foundation’s mission by collecting gently used athletic shoes. Led by our dedicated member, Adhya Garlapati, our club has successfully collected over 1567 pairs of shoes to date!
This initiative helps prevent waste, promotes sustainability, and funds reforestation and education programs in developing countries. Our club hosts local shoe drives and awareness campaigns, sending collected shoes to the MORE Foundation to support life-changing programs in communities in need. Learn more about MORE at https://www.morefoundationgroup.org/
Together, we’re walking the walk—for a greener, healthier planet.
Monarch Butterfly and Pollination Awareness Initiative
As part of the 4C STEM Club’s Pollinator Conservation Program, Adhya Garlapati has spearheaded a community initiative focused on protecting monarch butterflies and promoting pollinator-friendly habitats. Under her leadership, the club has distributed over 3,000 milkweed and native plant seed packets to families, schools, and local organizations—encouraging community members to grow habitats that support pollinators right in their own backyards.
Adhya has also led educational outreach efforts, hosting information tables at community events and STEM conferences to teach the importance of native plants, pollination, and biodiversity. Through this program, the club and Adhya are helping the community understand how small, local actions can make a meaningful impact in restoring habitats and supporting a healthy, balanced ecosystem.
Building a Greener Future Through Education
The 4C STEM Club, in collaboration with the Buffalo Grove Environmental Action Team (BGEAT), hosts the Sustainable Education Program, featuring guest lectures on sustainability. Experts share valuable insights on eco-friendly practices, global challenges, and solutions for a greener future. This program aims to engage our community in meaningful conversations and inspire action toward sustainability through knowledge and innovation. Together, we are empowering the next generation of leaders to think critically, act responsibly, and build a greener future!
Learn more about the Buffalo Grove Environmental Action Team, at https://www.bgparks.org/information/environmental-action-team/
Book Repurposing Initiative
As part of our sustainability efforts, the 4C STEM Club launched a community-wide book collection drive to promote reuse and reduce waste. Through this initiative, our members collected and sorted over 10,000 books from families across the Buffalo Grove area.
Instead of letting these valuable resources go to waste, we donated them to various organizations, schools, and community groups that could repurpose them for education and outreach. This project not only kept thousands of books out of landfills but also supported literacy, learning, and resource sharing within our community.
By turning what might have been discarded materials into opportunities for others, we continue to show how sustainability and STEM values go hand-in-hand, creating a positive impact on both people and the planet.
Vase Reuse and Repurposing Project
Continuing our mission to promote sustainability, the 4C STEM Club continuing collecting vases to give new life to unused vases. Our members gathered over 2,000 vases from local residents, preventing them from ending up in landfills.
These vases were then donated to organizations and community groups that could repurpose them for floral arrangements, events, and creative reuse projects. Through this effort, we demonstrated how simple acts of reusing everyday items can make a meaningful environmental impact and strengthen community connections.