Noah Kriger is a typical eight-year-old.

As I sat with his mother, Laura, and father Josh in their living room on Walnut Street in Williamsport, Noah was bouncing around on the couch, talking about basketball one second and pandas the next. More than once, he popped out of the room to show me something we talked about. More than once, I lost my train of thought because I was having so much fun watching this little guy.

It was one of the most amusing interviews I have ever had. Yet, at the same time, it was one of the most inspiring because that little eight-year-old, second-grade student at Cochran Elementary School is spearheading an area litter cleanup on Earth Day, Saturday, April 17th, in lieu of presents for his birthday.

This is the third year that this young man has wanted to do something worthwhile for his birthday. It started two years ago when his parents took him to visit an SPCA shelter after hearing him express concerns about local stray animals. Noah decided that on his birthday, he wanted those who came to his birthday party to make contributions to the SPCA. The following year, he worried about those who did not have enough to eat, so he asked for donations to the local food bank.

As his birthday on February 15th was rolling around this year, Noah’s interests were focused on endangered species. One of many long-term goals Noah has is to research the red panda. I never heard of a red panda, but Noah expounded on how it is a very unique species that is called a panda but looks more like a raccoon or weasel. It is native to China and facing extinction, and this greatly concerns little Noah.

He is also passionate about marine life. While we were talking about the danger of plastics in the ocean, he jumped up and grabbed a six-pack of sodas from his kitchen to show me the plastic holders keeping them together. He held it up and told me somberly that this little piece of litter could choke a duck.

So what can an eight-year-old in Williamsport do about these global problems? Where else but start at home.

Noah’s Earth Day Cleanup is an effort to find volunteers and materials to clean up different areas of the city of Williamsport and surrounding areas. Beyond the obvious benefit of making the area more aesthetically nice, it also helps the environment as proper disposal will keep trash out of the seas.

Needed supplies include black and white trash bags (to differentiate between trash and recycle materials), plastic gloves (preferably non-latex), and long and short trash grabbers tools.

If you would like to donate any of these much-needed items, they can be dropped off at Premier Real Estate, 400 Market Street, first floor, in Williamsport.

To make the effort more of a team effort, matching t-shirts marked “Noah’s Earth Day Cleanup” can be purchased at bonfire.com/noahs-earth-day-cleanup-shirts. They come in all sizes and in colors green, black, and royal blue. All proceeds from the shirts will go to the nonprofit ecological organization called The Ocean Cleanup (theoceancleanup.com). Ocean Cleanup’s objective is to eliminate 90 percent of the floating plastic in our oceans.

Noah hopes that every community in the area would make an effort to clean up on Earth Day. In Williamsport, there will be six different meeting points (in five zones) for supply handouts and trash drop-off, located in parks around the city.

These locations will be:
• Newberry Park, 813 Baker St.
• Memorial Park, 1744 W. 4th St.
• Flannigan Park, corner of Memorial Ave. and Little League Blvd.
• Brandon Park Bandshell, Packer St.
• Cochran Park, 1500 Cherry St.
• Shaw Place Park, Sherman St.

More information can be found on Facebook by searching, “Noah’s Earth Day Cleanup.” As we approach Earth Day, please consider helping to make our area a little cleaner and a little nicer, by joining Noah’s Earth Day Cleanup. If you are unable to participate, please consider donating supplies!