 CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT
Just under 300 volunteers helped Congressman Hal Rogers, PRIDE co-founder, kick off the 11th annual PRIDE Spring Cleanup on April 5 at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park.
Despite chilly temperatures, 278 volunteers turned out for the fun-filled event. They received free T-shirts, were treated to a free picnic, and were eligible for door prizes.
Volunteers also enjoyed the satisfaction of a job well done. They filled 750 trash bags with litter from Highway 90 in McCreary and Whitley Counties, near the state park. The scenic drive will now be more enjoyable for local travelers, as well as tourists.
With 110 volunteers, McCreary County earned the “Litter Cup” trophy for the county that recruited the most volunteers. Whitley County can try again next year to bring the trophy to its court house.
School groups with the most volunteers won movie parties at Tri-County Cineplex in Corbin. Saint Camillus Academy, which is in Corbin, led schools with 29 volunteers. Beulah Christian Academy and the Pine Knot Job Corps, both in McCreary County, tied for 2nd Place with 25 volunteers each.
With 24 volunteers, the McCreary County ATV-OHV Club won the plaque for Community Group with the Most Volunteers. Eagle Sawyer Volunteer Fire Department and Community Watch, also in McCreary County, won the 2nd Place plaque with 16 volunteers.
Kyle Veatch won a $50 savings bond for finding the most unusual piece of trash, which was a car door.
All volunteers’ names were entered into a drawing for door prizes, including bicycles and basketballs signed by Jeff Shepherd. Brian Rose won the most popular door prize — two tickets to the University of Kentucky football team’s season finale against Vanderbilt in November.
The organizations that partnered to host this event were Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, McCreary County Fiscal Court, Whitley County Fiscal Court, US Forest Service, McCreary County Extension Service, and Eastern Kentucky PRIDE.
Region-wide, the Spring Cleanup is made possible by Wal-Mart, the exclusive Gold-Level Sponsor of the 2008 PRIDE Spring Cleanup, as well as the two Silver-Level Sponsors, Outdoor Venture Corporation/Shelter-Pro, LLC and SouthEast Telephone Company, and the Bronze-Level Sponsor Hinkle Contracting Corporation.
Wal-Mart made a generous financial contribution that ensures that the region's volunteers have the cleanup supplies they need and receive the recognition they deserve for caring for the environment.
Outdoor Venture is a long-time contributor to the PRIDE organization, as well as PRIDE activities near the company's headquarters in Stearns. Pikeville-based SouthEast Telephone has donated bottled water and hosted picnics for PRIDE volunteers since 2004. Hinkle Contracting often donates equipment, personnel and supplies to local PRIDE projects.
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