Pitch In
Saturday , September 18, 2010
“All Americans should take pride in their outstanding public lands…We must all work together for a renewed awareness that these lands are our lands to care for and about.”
- President Ronald Reagan’s State of the Union Message
The History of Pride Day
in the Kern River Valley
Thomas Refuse Service together with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sponsored the first Kern Valley Pride Day in 1986 in response to the “National Take Pride in America” campaign. President Ronald Reagan stated in his 1986 State of the Union message, “All Americans should take pride in their outstanding public lands…We must all work together for a renewed awareness that these lands are our lands to care for and about.”
In response to that call, young and old alike gather on the third Saturday of September at 8:00 in the morning to begin the clean up of their designated areas. Prior to noon everyone meets at the French Gulch Group Campground area for disposing and counting of their trash bags. All volunteers are invited to enjoy cold drinks, a deep pit BBQ luncheon, and musical entertainment. Special recognition awards are presented to all participants, with the winners receiving cash awards for their group, or charity of their choice. Initially Pride Day focused on cleaning up around Isabella Lake, but has now grown to include the banks of the Kern River, Adopt-A-Hwy areas and basically anywhere that a little “T.L.C.” is needed. It is a fun day for the groups and families that join in the effort, and everyone gains satisfaction in knowing they helped make a difference in their community.
Kern Valley Pride Day 2009
PRIDE DAY 2009 had over 696 people participants. Fifty-eight groups picked up litter as far north as Chico Flat Campground, south to Hobo Campground, east to the South Fork, and west from Alta Sierra. Areas of pickup also included neighborhoods, empty lots, and favorite spots that needed some “T.L.C.”
Last year Nuni Cunni Cultural Center was the 1st place winner. Ruth and Wayne Barker took 2nd, and donated back to the Wallace Camp Keep program, Kern Valley Exchange was the 3rd place winner.
A total of 1543 bags of litter, estimated at 6.45 tons were removed from the Kern River Valley community. Some of the more unusual items collected were motorcycles, toilets, and purses, dryer, and car parts. Pride Day 2009 was another record setting year thanks to a great group of volunteers.
Six years ago Kern Valley Pride Day joined forces with National Public Lands Day. During the month of September over 100,000 volunteers coast to coast are expected to come out and lend a hand to America’s lands. Kern Valley Pride Day will be a part of the largest volunteer hands on effort of its kind in the country. Together we will lend a hand in an effort to preserve and improve the lands we love and use to bike, hike, swim, climb, explore, picnic or just plain relax in.
KERN VALLEY PRIDE DAY 2010 will be held on Saturday, September 18th, sponsored by the United States Forest Service, Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce, California Land Management, QAB Media, Kern Valley Sun, The Ice Company, and Thomas Refuse Service, Inc.
This one-day event will begin at 8:00 A.M. with the cleanup and end at 11:30 A.M. at the French Gulch Group Campground area, where a BBQ luncheon will be served to all participants.
Individuals, groups, families and Adopt-A-Highway members, are encouraged to choose an area from the enclosed map or any public area or roadway in the Kern Valley and be responsible for trash pickup in that area. Pick your favorite fishing spot, camping area or just some place you know that could use a little "T.L.C." and then take PRIDE in knowing that you can make a difference. Bring the collected trash to the French Gulch Group Campground area for counting and disposal by 11:30 A.M. Trash bags, safety vests, and trash pickup sticks are available and can be picked up at the U.S.F.S Visitor Center, in Lake Isabella on Thursday, September 16th or Friday, September 17th.
One of our goals with Pride Day is to incorporate more recycling in an effort to reduce the waste entering the landfills. Therefore, we encourage you and your team to do your best by separating the recyclables (plastics, aluminum, tin, glass, etc.) from the actual trash that you collect. The recyclables will be included in your overall pick up credit. In addition, the groups who achieve the highest diversion amounts will earn $20 in Trash Cash for each member of their team! Trash cash is redeemable towards any service offered by Thomas Refuse Service.
We hope you, your family, or organization will join us in making this year the best ever. Please complete and return the attached form indicating your location choice with one alternate choice. You will be contacted again with final instructions prior to Pride Day. We look forward to seeing you.
For more information call:
Thomas Refuse Service, Inc.
(760) 379-2618 x 108
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