'Circular Economy': High Schoolers To Hold Donation Drive In Downtown Bethesda

BETHESDA, MD — Two high school juniors from Bethesda are holding a community donation drive on April 29 in downtown Bethesda where used items that are still usable can be donated.

Along with collecting lots of unwanted but still usable items, the two girls — Alicja and Manuela — hope to talk to neighbors about the principles of a circular economy and encourage them to engage in sustainable practices.

The community donation drive will take place on Saturday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Elm Street Park in Bethesda.

Through their action in recent years as part of EcoExchange, a nonprofit group, the girls have helped to divert hundreds of pounds of usable items away from landfills. Alicja and Manuela will donate the items to local charities in the Washington, D.C., area, providing the groups with much-needed supplies.

Among the items that the girls hope to collect are bags, backpacks, books, art, games, toys, clothing, accessories, kitchen items, sporting goods and home goods

Alicja, a junior at Holton-Arms School, is the president of EcoExchange and co-director of the Maryland chapter of the group. She was inspired to start EcoExchange as a 9th grader in 2021 after learning about the circular economy, its benefits and implementation.

As an intern at Bethesda Green, a local nonprofit group that focuses on sustainable practices, Alicja created a podcast series about the circular economy.

Manuela, Alicja’s best friend who attends Walt Whitman High School, serves as vice president of EcoExchange and co-director of the Maryland chapter. As a leader of Walt Whitman’s environmental club, Manuela took a college course earlier in her high school career, where she became in interested in sustainability and the circular economy.

EcoExchange also has chapters in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Texas and California.

Elm Street Park is located at 4600 Elm Street in Bethesda. Visit the EcoExchange website to see a list of suggested used items to donate on Saturday, April 29.