This fall, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, in partnership with The Home Depot and Behr, gave eight community groups paint and painting supplies as part of the 2018 Fresh Paint Days PA Program enabling them to renew a community structure in need.

This year’s program engaged local volunteers in painting projects that included an historic residence, a bandshell, a playground shelter, a family-owned destination eatery, local missions, a church and a library.

Armed with 20 gallons of paint, residents made an impact to treasured neighborhood structures, improving local areas and whole communities. 

Community projects, completed between the months of September and November, included:

-- Monroe County: Stroudsburg United Methodist Church, Stroudsburg: Used for decades as a meeting place and a soup kitchen, the Parish Hall addition to the Stroudsburg United Methodist church, was painted by church members and volunteers. “This section of the church was made beautiful by the Fresh Paint Days grants. We are all very grateful,” said Kay Bucci, coordinator of the event and church member.

-- Philadelphia: Association Puertorriquenos en Marcha: Students of Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine and other program partners helped paint the Children's Mission building that provides local children with interactive educational programs and health and wellness services to adults and seniors.

-- Westmoreland County: West Newton Public Library, West Newton: "The Keep Pa Beautiful Project transformed the West Newton Public Library into a focal point to attract visitors to our community,” said Mary Popovich, Vice President, West Newton Public Library. “Through collaboration with Behr paint, Home Depot, Contemporary Design and the Yough Senior Art Students, West Newton's rich history has been represented by two murals designed by two local students. The murals reflect our past and promote the progress our community has made in economic growth of our trail town through recreation and tourism."

“Our program is meant to empower residents to enhance and improve one structure. Sometimes that’s all it takes to get the momentum going to improve other buildings and even whole areas and eventually spur economic growth and development,” added Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.  “Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is thrilled to provide the seed for such projects. It is so inspirational to see what can be accomplished when community members work together. The transformations are a visible reminder of the pride that people have for the places they live. Through our partnership with BEHR and The Home Depot we are honored to be a part of these community revitalization efforts.”

More information on the program is available at KPB’s Fresh Paint Days PA Program webpage.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to become a member.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.

Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up communities and keep them clean and KPB’s Electronics Waste website.

(Photo: Monroe, Philadelphia, Westmoreland county projects.)

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