Only a few days remain before the July 31 deadline of VIP’s summer recycling contest for kids.

VIP Business Products is sponsoring the contest with the theme “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 effort.

For younger kids, there is a drawing or coloring contest. Most kids love to draw, so encourage them to express themselves. For older kids, an essay contest gives them a chance to express their ideas about recycling in words through a short paragraph or two on why recycling is important.

Children 8 and younger can participate by creating a coloring/ drawing showing how and why they recycle at home. Create a picture on an 8 ½-by-11 sheet of paper; any medium of art work is acceptable.

Entries will be judged on creativity, neatness, and level of age group.

Winning entries will be selected in the 5 and younger ages and in the 6-8 ages.

Each first-place winner will receive a gift basket valued at $50. Each second-place winner will receive a $25 gift card from Walmart.

For children ages 9 to 13 in the essay contest, entries must be the original, unpublished work of the entrant. The essays should be no more than 200 words each.

There will be a first-place winner and second-place winner selected. The first-place winner will receive a $50 Walmart card, and the second-place winner will receive a $25 Walmart 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.

Here are general rules for both contests:

• Work must be the sole effort of the participating child, 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, Facebook and the newspaper.
• Only one entry per child is accepted.

• No purchase is necessary to participate.

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

Late entries will not be eligible for prizes. Entries will be posted at VIP for customers to view. Winners will be notified as soon as all entries have been reviewed. Winning entries will be posted in VIP’s newsletter and on Facebook for VIP and for Keep Liberty Beautiful and in the Coastal Courier.

Recycling matters for all of us! According to kab.org, more than 82 million tons of items were recycled in 2009 in the United States but that is not nearly enough. We Americans create a lot of waste — more than 4 pounds per day, according to epa.gov. So recycling is critical. Recycling or making new things from recycled ones costs less money, uses much less energy and conserves our Earth’s natural resources.

Recycling saves space in landfills and also reduces the potential for toxins being released as garbage and later damage to our groundwater and waterways. The energy saved by recycling also results in less pollution.

Recycling is good for the environment and good for all of us. Encourage your kids to participate in this easy and fun recycling contest; it is an opportunity for them to learn more about recycling, too.