Buy It and Bag It

“I was on the West Coast a couple of
weeks ago and everyone was asking me about my Green Hills Chico bag
since I was able to use it everywhere from whole foods to department
and drugstores,” says Heather Hawkins, whose in-law family has
owned Green Hills since its inception in 1934 and helped initiate the
reusable bag project. “These bags are easy to pop into a purse and also
have a handy hook to link the bags together or carry with keys.”

The washable bags are free-trade made by
Chico, a California-based company who crafted a way to make the bags
3-by-4 inches when folded, then expand to a portly 18-by-18 inches when
opened up for use—and able to hold up to 20 pounds of goods. “You can’t
reuse a bag that you can’t carry with you,” says Hawkins, explaining
why they chose the economically sizable Chico brand. “The bag is
offered in a rainbow of colors with the Green Hills logo on it. And
unlike some other reusable bags, they’re stylish and good for the
environment.”

In the near future, as the Valley rests
on two sides of executive boards, it is being discussed with the town
and city that the bags will be sold as a fund-raiser to help beautify
different parts of the area. The proceeds will benefit different Valley
beautification projects, whether they’re purchased at Green Hills or
from any Valley organization interested in selling them.

“It has been suggested that the proceeds
will purchase bulbs for naturalizing, as well as trees and benches, to
name a few of our beautification project ideas,” continues Hawkins.
“This was one of the first developed regions in Syracuse, and many
families go back many generations in this area. Over the last decade or
so, the South Side has gained many unnecessary negative connotations;
we are hoping to change that perception in the near future and we hope
these bags will be a start.”

Although sold at Green Hills, the bags
can be transported and used anywhere to avoid having to go through the
old “paper or plastic” bit. They can be purchased during Green Hills
store hours, daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information about
the bags or anything else Green Hills related, call 492-1707.