Archive for the ‘Don’t Mess With Texas Trash Off’ Category
Pictures from the 2012 Don’t Mess With Texas Trash Off
Hundreds of volunteers from all walks of life appeared at Whitehouse City Park beginning at 8:00am to sign up for the 2012 Don’t Mess With Texas Trash Off. Starting at 8:00am, as a gusty wind blowed, volunteers from Keep Whitehouse Beautiful formed them into teams, handed out free t-shirts, gave them refreshments and sent them on their way to pick up trash and debris. The streets were cleaned from Hwy 110 North, to FM 346 both east and west, to FM 344, Hagan Road, Old Tyler Road and others. The Trash Off is the signature event for Keep Whitehouse Beautiful and part of the larger Great America Cleanup, sponsored by Keep America Beautiful.
According to Keep Whitehouse Beautiful President Dorothy LaFlure, “It makes all the difference in the world. It’s not only the fact that they are picking up litter that day. They’re also making everyone there aware of litter and those driving by aware of litter.”
We want to thank everyone who participated this year and made a statement about how they care about their community!
SAVE the DATE for the 2012 Don’t Mess with Texas Trash Off!
As we start planning our new year, there’s a big event in town that you will want to save the date for: the annual Don’t Mess With Texas Trash Off! This year, the big cleanup will take place on Saturday, April 14th.
We are looking for individuals, organizations, student classes, businesses and neighborhoods to help us this year. It’s a half-day filled with fun and fellowship while helping to make a difference in our community.
“Last year we had more than 300 people and we are expecting a great turnout again from our community,” said Debbie Shafer, KWB President. “These volunteers make all the difference in the world. It’s not only the fact that they are picking up litter that day. They’re also making everyone who is driving by aware of litter. Trash doesn’t just ‘go away.’ Someone has to pick it up–so don’t throw it out in the first place.”
The event starts at Whitehouse City Park for registration and t-shirt pickup for the first 300 participants. Then it’s off to a section of roadway with a group to pick up trash.
Will YOU volunteer this year? We hope so! Stay tuned for more information, and if you want to volunteer yourself, or a group, send an email to info@keepwhitehousebeautiful.com
Keep Whitehouse Beautiful Awarded Governor’s Community Achievement Award for 2011
Keep Whitehouse Beautiful volunteer Angela Klein presents the certificate of award for the 2011 GCAA at the July 2011 Whitehouse City Council meeting. From left: Mike Peterson, City Manager; Angela Klein; Mayor Danny Hogden
Keep Texas Beautiful has awarded Keep Whitehouse Beautiful the 2011 Governor’s Community Achievement Award (GCAA) in the category of population size 5,000 to 9,000. Per the report compiled by Keep Texas Beautiful: “In 2010, members of Keep Whitehouse Beautiful, together with local citizens, volunteered a total of 3,747 hours to community projects, and participated in 15 community events over the course of last year, reaching over 5,000 citizens. They also had direct contact with approximately 2,000 elementary students. Every school in Whitehouse participated in a recycling program last year, collecting everything from paper, cardboard and aluminum to ink jet and toner cartridges. KWB is active on five of six WISD campuses, and has taken the lead in working with educators to teach environmental, litter prevention and recycling lessons to all grades. Examples include: more than 350 first graders participating in a litter abatement and nature appreciation day, during which they completed booklets about littering and received a litter bag and a pencil; more than 330 third graders discussing why we recycle and creating Christmas ornaments from homemade paper embedded with phlox seeds; and nearly 370 sixth graders researching the advantages and disadvantages of various energy sources and testing objects at home to gauge their energy use. The local YMCA joined the action in 2010 as well, offering for the first time a six-week gardener program for their upper elementary summer campers. It was a huge success!
The KTB award for sustained excellence from 2009-2011
When the 2010 Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off rolled around, Whitehouse residents were ready to dive right in. Over 300 citizens – from Boy Scouts and school groups to church members, business people and city leaders – cleared 43.25 miles of roadway, collecting more than 7,000 pounds of litter in the process. The semi-annual Whitehouse’s Large Item Roundup was equally successful, netting 80 appliances, 27,000 pounds of scrap metal and 75 tires.
The local recycling center worked overtime as well last year. Staffed by only a city supervisor, community service workers served as the center’s workforce. They provided 1,108 hours of labor at no cost to the city, accepting and processing more than 255,000 pounds of recyclables, including 78,000 pounds of cardboard, more than 18,500 pounds of plastic, nearly 6,000 pounds of steel cans and over 150,000 pounds of paper. In a time of statewide budget cuts, Whitehouse pocketed more than $8,500 thanks to its efforts. With its environmental achievements acting as a beacon for the entire region, the city of Whitehouse is most certainly delivering on its goal of creating a healthier, more modern city.”
Thank you to Keep Texas Beautiful for its incredible leadership to all the local affiliates throughout the state. Go to the link below to view the page on the KTB site about Keep Whitehouse Beautiful and to view a slideshow of pictures from Whitehouse.
Pictures from the 2011 Don’t Mess With Texas Trash-Off
Over 350 people turned up for the 2011 Don’t Mess With Texas Trash-Off held Saturday, April 2nd at Whitehouse City Park. After registering, getting a free t-shirt and donut, volunteers fanned out across Whitehouse to pick up trash from highways and roadsides. Pictures were taken by Angela Klein and Macy Richey.
