Thank you to the New York Times for the wonderful feature on Vermont Green FC and our community of climate action engaged fans. We’re honored to be highlighted in the “50 States, 50 Fixes” series, featuring impactful climate stories in every state.
By Cara Buckley
It was game night in Burlington, home of the Vermont Green Football Club. The evening, in early June, was unfolding in its usual way. The stands were packed, the crowd was roaring and stamping its feet, with hundreds of Crocs and Birkenstocks pounding metal bleachers.
But there were signs that the team was playing for bigger stakes. Players wore jerseys made of recycled fabric, spectators who biked to the game were rewarded with raffle tickets, and the food trucks offered vegan eats. Before the night was over, the announcer, Tom Mientka-Proctor, made the same announcement that he does at every home game.
“Please take all your trash and recycling out of the stands with you and put them in the appropriate bins,” Mr. Mientka-Proctor, who is from England, thundered through the loudspeaker. Bottles and cans should be empty, he continued, and food waste should go into the compost containers. “Thank you for pitching in for the planet!” he added brightly.