Parents, have you heard that proverbial summertime cry yet?

You know the one; it’s heard around the world just a few weeks after school lets out: “I am bored! I don’t have anything to do!”

Well if so, here is a great summer activity that will keep your kids busy and could be good for them, too. VIP Business Products is sponsoring a summer recycling contest.

The contest’s theme is “Making a Difference in My World by Recycling.” VIP staff members are avid recyclers at the store, and they want to encourage everyone, young and old, to join in the recycling effort.

Sponsoring the contest is their incentive to get kids thinking about why recycling is important.

The contest is divided into two age groups. Children 8 and younger can create a coloring/drawing that shows how and why they recycle at home. The rules are simple:

• Create a picture on an 8 ½-by-11 sheet of paper.

• Any medium of art is acceptable.

• Work must be the sole effort of the child participating, but special-needs children may receive some adult assistance. Please note this on the back of the entry.

• A parent must sign a release slip for the winning entry to be included in email newsletters, on Facebook and in the newspaper.
• Only one entry per person accepted.

• There is no purchase necessary to participate.

• Family members of VIP Office Furniture can show their work but are not eligible for prizes.

Entries will be judged on creativity and neatness in the 5 and younger ages and in the 6-8 ages.

For children ages 9-13, the contest entry is a brief essay based on the contest’s theme. Here are the rules:

• Entries must be the original, unpublished work of the child entering the contest.

• The essay must be the sole effort of the child participating, but special needs children may receive some adult assistance. Please note this on the back of the entry.

• Parent must sign a release slip for the winning entry to be included in email newsletters, Facebook and newspaper.

• The brief essays cannot exceed a maximum length of 200 words.

• Only one entry per person accepted.

• There is no purchase necessary to participate.

• Family members of VIP Office Furniture can show their work but are not eligible for prizes.

• Entries will be judged on the creativity and original ides presented in the essays.

Each first-place finisher will receive a gift basket valued at $50.

Second-place finishers in each category will receive a $25 Walmart gift card.

Entries can be mailed or delivered to: VIP Office Furniture and Supply, 109 Central Ave., Hinesville, GA 31313.

They can also be emailed to recycle@vipoffice.com

The deadline for the contest is July 31.

Entries will be posted at VIP for viewing. Winners will be notified as soon as all entries have been reviewed.

Get your child involved in this summertime project and maybe — just maybe — you won’t hear “I am bored” for a few hours!