Great Texas Trash Off April 5
Teams sought from church, civic, business community

Diane Nicholson (left) presents a Whitehouse Chamber of Commerce membership plaque to Factory Connection manager Sara McInnis. Factory Connection is located in the Town Center Shopping Center.

It is time again for the Great Texas Trash Off. This annual event allows all citizens to demonstrate they care as community members gather to pick up litter on our road side. On April 5, citizens are urged to gather at Whitehouse City Park where they will be assigned a stretch of roadway to walk and given bags collect litter.

The event will begin at 8 a.m. Assignments will be given and groups will be sent out by 9 a.m. By noon all groups should be finished. Participants are encouraged to wear long pants, closed toe shoes, hat, sunscreen and long-sleeved shirt.

There is still time to sign up church groups, civic organizations, businesses or neighborhoods who would like to form a team for this clean-up event by calling 903-839-2166. Also, the first 300 to check in at the park that morning will receive maroon and white Great Texas Trash Off T-shirts.

"The benefit to the community is immeasurable," said Debbie Shafer, chair of Keep Whitehouse Beautiful. "Recently I spoke to a new resident in the Whitehouse area and they told me that one of the first things they noticed was how little litter there was on the roadways. It was a deciding factor for them as they were looking for a place to live."

The litter on the roadway is from several sources. Most often careless occupants of vehicles throw items out, or litter placed in the bed of a pickup truck frequently flies out and lands on the roadside. Another source is untarped or poorly covered loads. But one cause of litter that we do not usually thing of is trash cans put out on the side of the road for pick up. Make sure the lid is closed tightly to avoid waste blowing out.

Those participating in the Great Texas Trash Off not only clean the roadways they receive a great education as well. Seeing the results of the cleanup, they are more careful in disposing their litter.

This event is sponsored by Keep Whitehouse Beautiful. For more information call 903- 839-2166.