'Make the town a little bit nicer': East Deer schedules first cleanup day

An East Deer man is hoping to make a difference in the township, even if it comes down to picking up one piece of litter at a time.

Adam Klingensmith is organizing what’s believed to be the township’s first cleanup day April 21.

“We’re going to be picking up any kind of trash and make the town a little bit nicer,” said Klingensmith, 29, a nearly lifelong East Deer resident.

Klingensmith’s goal is to get 15 to 20 volunteers to participate in the cleanup and remove trash from the township’s waterways and roads.

He graduates from PennWest Edinboro this summer with a degree in environmental science.

“This is kind of my bread and butter. I thought the best way to start changing the world is to start in your own backyard,” he said.

Township Commissioner Jacob Gigler also is hoping for a successful cleanup day.

“I want to see this be the spark and start of more events similar or in the same vein in the township,” Gigler said. “I want everyone to have a greater sense of pride in the township. That’s the goal.”

Klingensmith is collaborating with Ocean Conservancy and Keep PA Beautiful for the event. It’s “tremendously important” for people to care about the environment and take pride in their surroundings, he said.

Heidi Pedicone, program director at Keep PA Beautiful, said there are about 5,000 events annually statewide through the “Pick Up Pennsylvania” initiative, with East Deer’s event being one of them.

“Volunteers can expect always a fun day, fresh air and a sense of accomplishment by keeping their community clean and beautiful,” she said.

Such events usually accumulate a few hundred pounds of trash, Pedicone said.

The event starts at 1 p.m. in East Deer Memorial Park, 700 Front St., and will be held rain or shine. Klingensmith will provide gloves and trash bags. Volunteers will focus on picking up trash in areas including along the river and roadsides.

“The roads we don’t see every day are the ones that are neglected and, unfortunately, need the most attention,” Klingensmith said.

Klingensmith hopes to make the cleanup day an annual event in the township.