South Bay Sustainable Communities Network Founder and Executive Director Tina Matthias was surprised at this Saturday’s cleanup with a presentation from the Chula Vista Host Lions Club with the Lions Club’s Melvin Jones Award.
This award is the highest award given by Lions International to Lions and members of the community for outstanding community service.
The award was presented to Matthias because since she started Sustainable Communities projects in 2020, she added 12 local communities, consisting of over 200 households, local coffee shops, and food drives participating in the neighborhood composting program. In 2021, the communities diverted 31,000 lbs. of food scraps from the landfill and turned it into compost that went back to the community.
In 2022 she added more community projects,partnering with the local high schools, calling the program Youth 4 a Sustainable Future, teaching them how to incorporate sustainable practices into daily lives. Matthias also sends out monthly information which helps bring in new members, hosts monthly eco workshops, nature hikes and neighborhood clean-ups.
