Los Medanos College students engaged with local non-profit organizations that visited the college Wednesday April 18 to raise awareness of how crucial sustainability is and how it affects people all over the globe.

The LMC Sustainability Committee sponsored the annual Earth Day event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the outdoor quad.

Worldwide Earth Day is officially April 22, but since the college is closed Sunday a weekday event was planned.

LMC Biology Lab Coordinator Jenifer Fay, who co-chairs the Sustainability Committee, is passionate about addressing pollution but said concern for the environment takes many forms. There are also methods to support sustainability such as consuming fewer animal products or utilizing fuel-efficient vehicles.

“Find one that is easy for you to accomplish and embrace it,” Fay encouraged.

Students who visited all booths were eligible to enter a raffle to win tickets to the California Academy of Sciences, which is among the most esteemed museums of natural history in the world.

Ten different organizations attended the Earth Day Event to offer agriculture training, tips on conserving water and economic sustainability.

Job opportunities are available for those interested in being summer program managers or energy specialists for local organizations like Rising Sun Energy.

Rising Sun Energy was founded in 1994 and began serving communities in California in 2000, assessing how much electricity and water a household consumes. Through California Youth Energy Services (CYES) the organization trains and employs youth to suggest alternative installations such as showerheads or LED light bulbs.

There is no cost for the at-home evaluation, because the organization is primarily funded by the Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s Energy Watch Partnerships.

Among the multiple booths that were stationed in the middle of the Pittsburg quad, one that stood out was the First Generations Farmers, a non-profit community farm based in Brentwood driven to aid the creation of resources by cultivating the future farmers of America. Representative Elia Vandos said the two main missions of the organization are food access and educating those interested in agriculture.

“Adults start at the beginning farmer training program which is a nine-month intensive program where they learn the aspects of running a farm and how to grow things,” said Vandos.

The people teaching in the program come from the University of California to mentor aspiring farmers through summer programs for the youth as well intermediate classes for adults.

Representatives from the Contra Costa Water District were also on hand to educate students about how to conserve water because, in countries like the United States, it is often taken for granted. Linda Ljuba explained how the conservation of water affects daily processes of people outside the household and throughout the country.

“Water is a resource we too often take for granted and some people hike miles for water that is not even clean,” said Ljuba.

Even something as little as checking your water meter, she said, can go a long way saving you money on your bill especially when you’re not using it.