Village communities bond during Earth-friendly fun celebration

Families celebrated community and the environment during The Villages at Belvoir's Earth-Friendly Fun event Tuesday at Woodlawn and Fairfax Villages' neighborhood centers.

To recognize Earth Day, children designed flowering pots, which they filled with potting mix dirt and planted seeds. Neighborhood center employees also gave children marigold flowers.

"We're encouraging growth from start to finish," said Terry Washington, The Villages at Belvoir community manager. "The seeds the children planted are the beginning and the goal is turn their seeds into flowers. Hopefully they'll see the fruits of their labor."

The Villages at Belvoir hosted the Earth-friendly event to educate children about plant growth. Woodlawn and Fairfax neighborhood centers were chosen sites for the Earth-Day celebration because both facilities are LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, according to Washington. Fairfax's center, for example, is Platinum LEED certified with environmentally friendly features such as recycled furniture and water conserving equipment.

This is the 43rd Earth Day celebration, according to www.earthday.org. The observance raises awareness and education of environmental concerns, such as air and water pollution. Earth Day also promotes outdoor activities and the improvement of the world's sustainability for future generations.

"It's great that we celebrate Earth Day," said Shawna Moles, stay-at-home mother, attending The Villages at Belvoir event with her children. "This is a good way to help the Earth and environment and teach our kids the importance of protecting the Earth."

This is one of many residential events The Villages at Belvoir hosts for Families on post. The organization also hosts occasions such as the Father-Daughter Ball, Family Fun Nights, Chili cook-offs and Back-to-School Parties. The events provide an outlet for Families to spend time together and socialize with neighbors. The goal is to develop a strong community amongst the residents on post, according to Washington.

"Earth Day is just another way for us to get all of our residents together," Washington said. "It allows us to develop a sense of connection."