For the 12th consecutive year, Wisconsin-based Metcalfe’s Market will celebrate Earth Day on April 22 with its community tradition of distributing 3,000 reusable shopping bags featuring original artwork from students at 10 local elementary schools. 
Limited to one per customer, the bags will be available while supplies last at all three Metcalfe’s Market locations.
“Every year, I’m blown away by the creativity and inspiration these students bring to their bags,” said Kelsey Peyton, store director at the Hilldale Metcalfe’s.
“It’s more than just a giveaway; it’s a way for our shoppers to see Earth Day through the eyes of our local kids. We’re so proud to host this tradition … especially when sustainability is so important to how we operate at Metcalfe’s.”
The tradition comes as communities worldwide prepare for the annual observance of Earth Day. Founded in 1970 by U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, Earth Day began as a nationwide day of environmental awareness and protest Nelson dubbed a “national teach-in” following a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.
The first event April 22, 1970, drew 20 million Americans to rallies and protests, eventually helping lead to the creation of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. The 2026 Earth Day theme is “Our Power, Our Planet.”
Bags will be available at the following Metcalfe’s locations:
- Hilldale: 726 N. Midvale Blvd., Madison
- Wauwatosa: 6700 W. State St., Wauwatosa
- West Towne: 7455 Mineral Point Road, Madison
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When I put the idea online of schools working with local grocery stores on Earth Day (way back in 1994), I had no inkling of where it would go. Since then, millions of students worldwide have given their artwork away to their neighbors to let them know how much they care about their Earth.
Congratulations to Metcalf’s for this wonderful collaboration with students and their communities! Here’s one of the many photo reports from the website, from a couple of Madison schools in 2008: https://www.earthdaybags.org/pics/08/velma.htm
Thanks for spreading the word, keeping the tradition alive – and Happy Earth Day!
Mark Ahlness
Founder, The Earth Day Groceries Project
http://earthdaybags.org
Seattle, Washington