249 volunteers cleaned roads at Cumberland Falls
April 2, 2015 by clackey
Volunteers from the First Baptist Church of Rockholds accepted their plaque as the largest community-based volunteer group at the 2015 Cumberland Falls Spring Cleanup. Photo courtesy of Cumberland Falls Ramblings community page at www.facebook.com
The Cumberland Falls Spring Cleanup on March 28 drew 249 volunteers to pick up litter along Hwy. 90 and other roads near Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. They removed 453 bags of trash and eight tires from the scenic route.
“I want to tell each and every volunteer how much you are appreciated,” said Tammie Wilson of PRIDE, one of the event organizers. “I also thank all the door prize donors and our partners in hosting this cleanup.”
Volunteers received free T-shirts, lunch and a chance at door prizes. The food was prepared by students in the culinary arts program at the Pine Knot Job Corps.
Whitley County won the “Volunteer Cup” for registering the most volunteers. Whitley County now has won the cup three times since the annual event began, and McCreary County has won the cup four times.
This year, there were 117 volunteers from Whitley County and 111 volunteers from McCreary County. Twenty-one volunteers were from other counties.
Plaques were awarded to the school groups and community groups that brought the most volunteers. Whitley County JROTC was the largest school-based volunteer group, and the Pine Knot Job Corp was the 1st Runner Up.
First Baptist Church of Rockholds was the community group with the most volunteers. The 1st Runner Up among community groups was the team from the McCreary County ATV Club.
The youngest volunteers were four-year-old Peighton Smith and Brooklyn Ross. They received $20 Walmart gift cards.
Eva Jones was the oldest volunteer, and her prize was a $20 Walmart gift card.
The Cumberland Falls Spring Cleanup is a partnership among PRIDE, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, McCreary County Fiscal Court 109 Board, Whitley County Fiscal Court, US Forest Service, McCreary County Extension Service, McCreary County Board of Education, Whitley County School System, United Cumberland Bank and Pine Knot Job Corp.
“The Cumberland Falls event kicked off the annual PRIDE Spring Cleanup season in southern and eastern Kentucky,” Wilson said. “Our theme this year is, ‘Take PRIDE, Company’s Coming. That’s because the Spring Cleanup is a great way to make our area look its best as tourists start to arrive, and it’s a fun way to enjoy the good company of your friends and family as you volunteer together in the great outdoors.”
The region-wide PRIDE Spring Cleanup is made possible by the following sponsors: Outdoor Venture Corporation, Walmart and Waste Connections of Kentucky.
“If you want to be a Spring Cleanup volunteer, there are several community cleanup events coming up,” she said. “For example, on Saturday, April 25, you can help out at the McCreary County Clean Sweep of US 27, the Lake Cumberland Lake-Wide Cleanup or the Dale Hollow Cleanup. You can find details at the PRIDE web site.”
“Or, you could clean your own favorite spot when you want,” Wilson suggested. “If you need trash bags, gloves or safety vests, PRIDE will give them away, while supplies last. Just call our toll-free number.”
The toll-free number for PRIDE is 888-577-4339.
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