Keep Laredo Beautiful plans summer art program to paint recycling bins for Boys & Girls Club with Coca‑Cola partnership

Keep Laredo Beautiful staff presented plans for a summer art program that will have students decorate and paint three recycling bins to be donated to the Boys & Girls Club as part of a Coca‑Cola sustainability partnership.

Staff said the bins have three distinct openings for sorting or recycling and that the decorated containers will be delivered to Boys & Girls Club locations after completion. The program will provide all painting supplies and offer community service hours to participants; staff discussed adding a modest incentive or scholarship for students but said any monetary award had not been finalized.

Organizers described the project as both educational and service-oriented: students will learn about recycling while producing reusable containers that will be placed at club sites. The board discussed logistics including target participants (recommended to be high-school and college students), a summertime schedule, and ways to recruit participants through rec centers and community outreach.

Staff said they will seek sponsors to underwrite a small scholarship or prize for participants and noted a local business contact (business name provided by a board member) might be asked to contribute. The program is planned to run through the summer and to include submission of painted bins for delivery once artwork is complete. No formal funding decision was taken at the meeting; staff requested help securing sponsors and volunteers to run the sessions.