March 2011: Pat Webster, Taylor County
June 8, 2011 by crd_admin
Pat Webster, PRIDE’s Tammie Wilson.
Campbellsville resident Pat Webster has been named southern and eastern Kentucky’s PRIDE Volunteer of the Month for her leadership in local recycling and beautification efforts.
PRIDE’s Tammie Wilson surprised Webster with the award yesterday during a regional workshop in Columbia for PRIDE Spring Cleanup Month.
Wilson said, “Pat shows us the power of volunteering. By giving freely of her time to support projects that are special to her, she has helped improve her entire community. How wonderful that she shares her passion for recycling and a clean environment with children, who can carry on her legacy well into the future.”
“She is always looking for new ways to keep our county clean and beautiful. She is our hero!” said Angie Freeman, who nominated Webster for the PRIDE award. Freeman is an instructor at the Campbellsville Child Development Center, where she sponsors the God’s World PRIDE Club.
A retired teacher, Webster is the Environmental Chair for Taylor County Homemakers and serves on the advisory committee for the county’s five-year solid waste plan. She was a founding member of the Campbellsville Recycling Committee.
Webster has worked tirelessly since 1991 to create local interest and facilities for recycling. She was a driving force behind establishing the recycling center, Freeman said. She spearheaded Recycles Day and collected donations to expand the recycling center.
Webster continues to speak to groups about the benefits of recycling.
“She comes, bags in hand, with items to show students what can and cannot be recycled and offers gifts such as pencils made from blue jeans to show that good can come from recycling,” when she visits God’s World PRIDE Club, Freeman said.
Last spring, she worked with the PRIDE Club to set out native plants in the county homemakers’ mound at Miller Park.
The PRIDE Volunteer of the Month program recognizes hard work and dedication to the PRIDE initiative, which promotes environmental education and cleanup efforts in 38 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky. With corporate sponsorship from TECO Coal, WYMT-TV, the CBS affiliate in Hazard, airs commercials about each PRIDE Volunteer of the Month.
“Volunteers are the backbone of PRIDE,” said Congressman Hal Rogers, who founded PRIDE in 1997. “We wouldn’t be where we are without our volunteers. More than 320,000 volunteers have helped with PRIDE cleanup and education projects. We want to thank TECO Coal for helping PRIDE give these generous people the recognition they deserve.”
“I encourage everyone to catch Pat’s community spirit and volunteer to pick up litter during PRIDE Spring Cleanup Month in April,” Wilson added. “To volunteer for a cleanup event or plan your own in Taylor County, please call Debra McNear at 465-7729. In Campbellsville, your PRIDE Coordinator is Cary Noe, and her phone number is 465-7011. You can learn more at the PRIDE web site, which is www.kypride.org.”
