Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Thursday announced ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer, both of the Wakefern Food Corp. family of brands, are the newest sponsors of the 2015 Great American Cleanup of PA, their annual signature event.

“ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer stores are owned and operated by families who live in the communities they serve. With deep and personal connections to the great state of Pennsylvania, these family businesses are committed to keeping it clean and beautiful for generations to come,” said Karen Meleta, spokesperson for Wakefern Food Corp., whose family of brands include the ShopRite and Fresh Grocer banners. “Partnering with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is a great way of solidifying this commitment to preserving and giving back to the communities we serve.”

“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, along with ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer, share the goal of promoting a sustainable environment and livable communities. The Great American Cleanup empowers citizens to do that locally. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is honored and grateful for the support of Wakefern Food Corp.,” stated Shannon Reiter, President Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer join other 2015 event supporters: the Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT, Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association, the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, Weis Markets, Inc., Waste Management, Republic Services, Steel Recycling Institute, Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, Giant Eagle Inc., Giant Food Stores, Inc., Wawa and Wegmans Food Markets.

The 2015 Great American Cleanup of PA runs from March 1st to May 31st. During this period, registered events can get trash bags, gloves, and safety vests from PennDOT district offices, as supplies last. Events can be litter cleanups, illegal dump cleanups, beautification projects, special collections, and educational events.

As part of this event, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association will sponsor Let’s Pick It Up PA – Everyday from April 11th- May 4th.  During the Pick It Up PA Days, registered events will be able to take the trash collected during their cleanup to participating landfills for reduced or free disposal.

Since the inception of this event in 2004, more than 1,565,967 volunteers removed 80,575,227 pounds of litter from the Pennsylvania landscape and planted 136,321 trees, bulbs, and flowers.

Registration for the Great American Cleanup of PA begins later in January.

More information is available on Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful's Great American Cleanup of PA webpage.

Any additional questions can be answered by Michelle Dunn, Great American Cleanup of PA Program Coordinator, at 1-877-772-3673 ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.  

1/16/2015