The Becker Lions have placed a receptacle at Food Pride in Becker to collect donations of plastics and other items to be recycled and made into benches to benefit the city, its parks and its businesses.

Shelly Mattson, treasurer with the the Becker Lions, is spearheading the drive to collect 500-lbs. of plastic material every six months to receive a maintenance-free bench made from the recycled materials. The benches will be produced by Trex Recycling out of Virginia, a company that makes more than just benches, but includes composite decking and railings, cladding, fencing and more.

The Lions hope the first round of recycled products will be enough to make a maintenance-free bench for outside of Food Pride. After that, they hope to get enough benches to have them placed at parks or other areas around town where they are needed.

The recycled products the Lions are looking for are produce and bread bags, grocery bags, cereal boxes and ice bags from one’s local grocery store. Or, save those Ziploc® and other reclosable bags or overwraps from cases of water or toilet tissue. Better yet, save those bags some newspapers come in or donate your drycleaning bags or even bubble wrap!

The Becker Lions Club is comprised of men and women who strive to make a positive impact in the Becker community and in the lives of Becker area residents. They meet monthly on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Becker City Park Shelter.

Along with Mattson being the treasurer, Tammy Weber is the president and Dale Seavert is the secretary.