Homemakers from Johnson County are region’s top PRIDE volunteers
June 1, 2015 by clackey
Members of the Red Bush Homemakers accepted the PRIDE Volunteer of the Month Award.
The Red Bush Homemakers, also known as the “Busy Bees,” earned the PRIDE Volunteer of the Month Award for their ongoing efforts to keep their Johnson County community free of roadside litter.
The Red Bush Homemakers have been conducting community cleanup events since 1998. They hold the cleanups as needed throughout the year.
“They not only do roadside litter pickups, but also clean creeks and streams that seem to collect garbage dumped by careless and uncaring people,” said Lillian Wheeler, who is the Coordinator of Special Programs and Projects for the Johnson County Fiscal Court. On behalf of the fiscal court, she nominated the group for the PRIDE award.
“Each time a cleanup is scheduled, the jailer and inmates are invited, and they are always willing to be a part because ladies who are unable to help with the litter pickup stay at the community center and prepare a bountiful and nutritious lunch for all volunteers,” Wheeler said.
“These ladies obviously care about their community and know how to get things done, so we are grateful they have made cleanups one of their top priorities,” said PRIDE’s Tammie Wilson, who presented the award to members of the group. “By being such devoted volunteers, the Busy Bees are making a difference in this beautiful area. They are also setting a great example for the next generation.”
The club, which was formed almost 50 years ago, is well known for its service projects in Red Bush and throughout Johnson County.
“The group cooks many meals for volunteers, hosts parties for special events, and remembers those in need, shut-ins, the young and the elderly,” Wheeler said. “They make money from special events to help young people with college scholarships. They adopted and took gifts to residents of nursing homes. Their members spent many hours helping with tornado relief work.
The PRIDE Volunteer of the Month program recognizes hard work and dedication to the PRIDE initiative, which promotes environmental education and cleanup efforts across 42 counties. Congressman Hal Rogers co-founded PRIDE in 1997 with the late General James E. Bickford, who was the Kentucky Secretary of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
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