At this year’s Mission Princeton, Sustainable Princeton honored longtime sustainability advocate, Penny Thomas. Penny was a Sustainable Princeton Trustee from 2013-2019 and is passionate about recycling and composting, as well as a master gardener. Penny led several initiatives as the Leader of Constitution Hill’s STAR Neighborhood. Here are just a few of the projects that Penny supported:
- Compiled a neighborhood tree inventory by cataloging, trimming, and treating (especially ash trees) the neighborhood trees as as well as removing and replacing old ones each year.
- The neighborhood created custom reusable shopping bags and filled them with educational materials before distributing them to each household.
- A monarch butterfly habitat was developed on a previously mowed field.
- The neighborhood led a campaign to encourage participation in Princeton’s former Curbside Organics collection.
In 2014, Penny was recognized for advocating for food waste recycling with a Sustainable Princeton Leadership Award. The award recognized her tenacious work with neighbors, the property owner’s association, and Princeton’s recycling coordinator to successfully implement Princeton’s former curbside organic waste program.
Penny’s passion for sustainability stems from her care for the future of her children and grandchildren.
We are so grateful for Penny Thomas, who truly left her mark on our organization and our community. Sustainable Princeton wouldn’t exist without Penny’s tenacity and commitment.
If you would like to make a donation in her honor, please visit our Kindful page.
