Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful seeks volunteers to participate in Pick Up Pennsylvania as a way to celebrate National Public Lands Day September 26.

Traditionally, National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort, meant to encourage environmental stewardship and build connections between people and green space in their community.

If you would like to join a cleanup, go to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Calendar of Events webpage for events happening across the state.

Residents can also host their own cleanup. Any event registered with their cleanup program, Pick Up Pennsylvania, can receive free trash bags, gloves and safety vests provided by the Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT, Keep America Beautiful, GLAD Products Company and the Ocean Conservancy, as supplies last.

Brianna Treichler, a Ranger with the United States Army Corps of Engineers registered a cleanup of Blue Marsh Lake in Leesport, Berks County, with Pick Up Pennsylvania as a way to honor National Public Lands Day.

To reduce the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), they will have a 'drive thru' registration for the event. Participants will remain in their vehicles to sign in and receive clean up supplies and maps.

“Our partnership with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and our participation in the Pick Up Pennsylvania program has helped us provide the necessary supplies to keep our volunteers safe while giving back to our national public lands at Blue Marsh Lake. This year has shown us how important our public lands and natural resources are to our individual and community’s health. The COVID-19 Pandemic has driven us to reconnect to our parks and forest systems, however the increase in outdoor recreation and cancellation of regular clean up events has led to an increase in litter and trash being left behind,” said Treichler.

As the western-most drainage of the Delaware River Watershed, Blue Marsh Lake provides valuable water resources to downstream communities. Keeping our water resources clean from trash and litter is vital to the health of our river systems and river communities.

Treichler suggests cleaning up our public lands is a way to pay it forward. “Participating in a local clean up event, like the National Public Lands Day - Blue Marsh Lake Clean Up Event, is a way for you to show your support for our local national public lands and resources, but also sets an example to others and younger generations of how we should be taking care of our natural resources to benefit everyone in the long term.”

Groups or Organizations wishing to volunteer for the Blue Marsh Lake cleanup scheduled for September 26 should contact Ranger Brianna Treichler by sending email to: Brianna.L.Treichler@usace.army.mil. 

“Volunteers all across the state will be out in force this weekend honoring our national public lands by leaving it better than they found it,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “You can help celebrate the beautiful lands Pennsylvania has to offer and pick up litter at your favorite park, trail, waterway or in your own neighborhood.”

For a list of National Public Lands Day events visit the NPL Day website.  

You can participate in Pick Up Pennsylvania through November 30.. 

Participants are encouraged to observe the most recent local, state and federal guidelines and/or restrictions to reduce the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and are encouraged to clean up in small groups, with family members or solo.

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.

Keep PA Beautiful helps mobilize over 100,000 volunteers a year to pick up litter, clean up illegal dumping and beautify Pennsylvania.

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[Posted: Sept. 21, 2020]

9/28/2020