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Community News and Resources | August 2026 A monthly publication funded by the PA Department of Environmental Protection
Central Westmoreland Career Technology Center participated in Pick Up Pennsylvania this spring.
Join Us for Pick Up Pennsylvania this Fall!
Get ready to make a difference in your community while supporting the International Coastal Cleanup effort. Pick Up Pennsylvania runs from September 1 through November 30, giving volunteers across the state the opportunity to help keep our neighborhoods, parks, waterways, and public spaces clean and beautiful.
This April, 20 members of the Central Westmoreland Career Technology Center (CWCTC) Aspiring Educators continued cleanups on their adopted road for the 29th year! These hardworking volunteers were part of this year's Spring Pick Up PA where over 51,000 volunteers collected 1.7 million pounds of trash and beautified 24,779 park acres to make our state even more beautiful! A huge thank you to CWCTC, and everyone for your participation and dedication!
Whether you join Pick Up Pennsylvania as an individual, family, community group, or organization, every bag of litter collected helps protect wildlife, improve local environments, and create cleaner spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Register today to receive free cleanup supplies provided with support from PA Department of Environmental Protection, PA Department of Transportation and Ocean Conservancy, available while supplies last.
Centre County Recycling and Solid Waste Authority representatives, Amy Schirf, Jeia Forsyth, David Watson, and Mimi Cooper have fun at the 2025 Annual Conference.
October 14–15, 2026 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading!
YOU are invited! Whether you're a community leader, volunteer, educator, municipal official, business partner, or environmental advocate, this conference is your opportunity to connect with passionate innovators from across the Commonwealth. Don't miss this opportunity to discover new ideas, share success stories, build valuable partnerships, and gain practical tools to help create cleaner, greener, and more vibrant Pennsylvania communities.
SPEAKER HIGHLIGHT Jerome Shabezz, Overbrook Environmental Education Center
Equitable Design: The Social Architecture for Sustainable & Resilient Communities
Strong communities are built by design, not by chance. In this thought- provoking session, Jerome Shabazz will discuss how equitable design principles can empower residents, address environmental and social disparities, and create more resilient communities. Through real-world examples and lessons learned from community-based initiatives, participants will discover how inclusive approaches to planning and development can foster healthier environments, stronger neighborhood connections, and sustainable outcomes for all.
Special thanks to our sponsors -
Main Street Gettysburg, Inc. volunteers at the restored Alumni Park.
Celebrating Four Years of Partnership with America250PA
For the past four years, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and America250PA have worked together to empower communities across the Commonwealth through volunteerism, civic engagement, beautification projects, and local initiatives that strengthen Pennsylvania's towns, parks, and public spaces.
Together, we've helped inspire community pride and support meaningful local improvements throughout 27 counties in the Commonwealth. Over four years, more than $102,253 was awarded to 36 organizations through the National Pennsylvania Day Mini Grant Program, helping to bring community improvement projects to life across Pennsylvania.
Here is a sample of projects completed over the years:
Friends of Washington Crossing Park, Bucks County - 100 native pants were planted, a garden fence installed, three large garden beds were topped off with topsoil, and educational labels were added to the historic Hibbs House garden. The garden is a component of the Colonial Days field trip program, which serves over 150 elementary school students each year. Educational tours include activities such as an introduction to herbal medicine and harvesting, and an interactive sensory experience with plants.
Cameron County Recreation Center, Cameron County - The facade was painted, the basketball court received new floorboards, and a new couch was built for the game room. The Recreation Center serves as a vital resource for local youth, offering a safe environment where children can engage in positive activities, develop new skills, and thrive.
Thank you, America250PA, for four years of collaboration, shared vision, and unwavering commitment to creating cleaner, greener, and stronger communities. We are proud of all we've accomplished together.
Cherly Plunket and the CAT Club of Nether Providence Township.
Cherly Plunket, Citizens Against Trash
After adopting Avondale Road in 2021 through the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Land Steward Program, Cheryl Plunket expanded her efforts into the CAT Club (Citizens Against Trash), a dedicated group of volunteers united by a shared commitment to keeping the community clean, safe, and beautiful. Inspired by Citizens Against Trash organization in Havre de Grace, Maryland, founded by her uncle, she brought that same spirit of community stewardship to Nether Providence Township.
“It's easy to walk past a piece of litter and assume someone else will take care of it but our community is better when each of us takes a moment to be part of the solution,” said Cheryl.
Over the past five years, CAT Club volunteers have demonstrated the power of community action, proving that small efforts can lead to meaningful results. Through regular cleanups and community involvement, members have helped preserve the beauty of the roadsides and public spaces while encouraging others to take pride in their surroundings.
“Five years later, I'm grateful to everyone who has volunteered and supported our cleanups. Together, we've shown that one small idea—and many helping hands—can make a lasting difference.”
You can make a difference by adopting a road or shared public space you care about through the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Land Steward program!
Remember, you can round up and direct Network for Good to support KPB every time you shop at Walmart. By selecting KPB and rounding, you’re investing in our programs that support communities across Pennsylvania, from local initiatives to statewide programs. Small change adds up!
Your donation means everything to us and the communities we serve. Give today!
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You’re receiving this message because you’re a valued leader and partner in the fight against litter in Pennsylvania. Thank you!
