Head Start students were among the volunteers who enjoyed the appreciation picnic at The Center for Rural Development

The PRIDE Clean Sweep of US 27 drew more volunteers than any other event across 38 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky during PRIDE Spring Cleanup Month in April.

A total of 862 volunteers donated 1,561 hours to pick up litter along US 27 and surrounding areas during the day-long event, which was held April 17.

They removed 768 bags of trash, four tires and one appliance along US 27 in Somerset and Burnside, as well as Monticello Street, Grand Central Avenue, Lakeview Drive, Norwood Road, Old Salts Road, Turner Street, Slate Branch Road, Enterprise Drive, Forest Ridge Road, Bourdon Road and downtown streets.

The Clean Sweep results were announced May 1 during the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce meeting. The Chamber is a founding partner in the Clean Sweep, along with PRIDE and The Center for Rural Development. The Somerset-Pulaski County Tourism and Convention Bureau also sponsored the event.

“This was our largest volunteer turnout since we started the Clean Sweep in 2009,” announced Bobby Clue, Executive Director of the Chamber. “In fact, the 2012 Clean Sweep was one of the largest PRIDE cleanup events ever.”

“We all can take great pride in this accomplishment,” Clue added. “Such a tremendous volunteer turnout says a lot about the community spirit in Somerset and Pulaski County. I thank all the businesses, schools, organizations and individuals who participated.”

“It’s impressive that the volunteers hailed from 51 separate organizations, all working together toward a common goal,” said PRIDE’s Tammie Wilson. “From business owners to front-line staff to students, volunteers turned out from every corner of our community. We even had 40 Head Start students picking up litter in safe spots at Rocky Hollow Park.”

The largest volunteer group was Somerset Community and Technical College, with 69 volunteers. Blackboard Student Service won the 2nd Place award for its 56 volunteers. Both organizations received plaques today.

The other organizations and businesses that turned in volunteer time sheets were: Aaron’s, Alton Blakey Ford and Honda, Baxter’s Coffee, Blackboard Student Services, Bluegrass Oakwood, Burnside Elementary/BETA, Citizens National Bank, Community Trust Bank, Cumberland Security Bank, Kentucky Department of Transportation-District 8, Downtown Diva, Dunbar Head Start, Fazoli’s, First and Farmers Bank, Friends of Lake Cumberland, Guthrie’s River House, Habitat for Humanity, Hampton Inn, Hardee’s, Holiday Inn Express, Honeybaked Ham, Hyundai, Kingsford Charcoal, Kroger North, Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, Lowe’s, Monticello Banking Company, New Life Industries, Northern Middle School, Pine Knot Job Corps, Pulaski Central School, Pulaski County Public Library PRIDE Club, Pulaski County Public Library Staff, Pulaski County Fiscal Court/Government, Pulaski County Homemakers, Reed Brothers Insurance, Republican Women’s Club, Somerset Community College, Somerset Animal Hospital, Somerset Christian School, Somerset High School, Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, South Kentucky RECC, Southern Middle School, Sully’s, Sunrise Children’s Home, Tateville Fire Department, The Center For Rural Development, The Job Shop, UGN and Walmart.

The region-wide PRIDE Spring Cleanup was made possible by a grant to PRIDE from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and by these sponsors: Waste Connections of Kentucky (Gold Sponsor), Outdoor Venture Corporation (Silver Sponsor), New Horizon Graphics (Bronze Sponsor), Lightyear Network Solutions (Bronze Sponsor), and Owens Auto & Truck Parts of Corbin (Bronze Sponsor).

“By pulling together as a community, we made a visible difference along our most traveled roads, just in time for the season’s first Somernites Cruise,” Wilson added. “Let’s build on that momentum. Let’s be vigilant every day to keep litter off our roads.”

To view photos from the PRIDE Clean Sweep of US 27, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/easternkentuckypride/sets/72157629845387765/.

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Filed under: Headlines, News, Spring Cleanup