Clara White Mission's Students Learn to Clean Green

JACKSONVILLE— This week, students of Clara White Mission’s janitorial services job-training program are learning more than a new skill; they are becoming part of a different “mission” – to green Florida’s future. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is providing hands-on green cleaning training at the Clara White Mission.

The Clara White Mission partners with businesses and local community organizations to reduce homelessness through advocacy, housing, job training and employment. In 2008, the mission started a Janitorial/Environmental Services Training Program to train people for work as housekeepers and janitors in the hospitality industry. Since its inaugural course, the Mission has continued to invite DEP to enhance the program by providing information on green cleaning. Five classes later students are still learning these skills.

“Our partnership with the Clara White Mission has been truly rewarding,” said Director of Sustainable Initiatives Deas Bohn. “We are able to help the mission provide students with a unique and marketable skill as they learn the benefits of green cleaning and to increase the use of green cleaners in businesses and industry.”

A green cleaning program is a complete approach to cleaning that examines the entire cleaning process. Programs assess space, products and work practices to maximize cleanliness while reducing unnecessary employee, staff, patient, visitor and environmental exposure to hazardous chemicals. In addition, green cleaning focuses on improving indoor air quality, reducing water pollution and encouraging recycling.

To complement the informational component of the green cleaning training, DEP also provided students with green cleaning kits containing microfiber cloths, environmentally friendly cleaning products and ingredients and directions for creating their own green products.

DEP’s Office of Sustainable Initiatives is comprised of three voluntary, non-regulatory programs that assist Florida industry and citizens in protecting the environment. The Clean Marina Program, the Florida Green Lodging Program and the Sustainable Initiative staff offer a variety of services including on-site assessments, consultations, speakers and workshops, all at no cost to citizens or organizations. The goal of the Sustainable Initiatives programs is to meet the needs of the present population without compromising resources for future generations. To learn more about DEP’s Sustainable Initiatives, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/green.

For more information on the Clara White Mission, visit www.clarawhitemission.org.