|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Mike Carroll |
|
Carroll: Dump cleanup funds benefit Toys for Tots
PITTSTON, Dec. 18 – State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne/Monroe, presented $600 to the Pittston Area High School Honor Society to match a grant they will receive for their participation in a state program that helps clean up illegal dump sites.
The Clean
up Our American Lands and Streams (COALS) program brings together environmental
groups, the coal and waste industries, and local, county and state
governments to combat illegal dumping. The program provides grant opportunities
to groups who agree to do cleanups of identified dump sites and is administered
by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.
A COALS Community Service Award of $600 will be presented in the spring of 2008 to the honor society for their Nov. 10 cleanup of a site in Avoca off Spruce Street near the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport. Over 2.5 tons of trash, including appliances, contractor waste and tires were removed from the environment by nearly 20 twenty students. A second site will be identified during the winter and will be cleaned up this spring.
Carroll, who pitched in at the cleanup event, said he was inspired by the students and decided to match the money they received through COALS.
“It was an honor to contribute to this hardworking and dedicated group,” Carroll said. “They did a great job cleaning up the site and should be commended for their willingness to make a difference.”
The students decided to use the funds to buy toys for the U.S. Marine Corps’ “Toys for Tots” Program, which will provide area children with Christmas presents. The honor society and other students at the school also bought and donated toys.
“The students had already given their time and effort to cleaning up the dump site, and then did another good deed by using the money they got to buy and donate the toys,” Carroll said. “I was very impressed with their willingness to do something good for the community and their use of the funds earned by the cleanup for such a wonderful cause.”
“The generosity of these students, combined with their community-minded spirit, benefits every resident of the Pittston area. Both the environment and the children who will receive toys from the Marine Corps are winners, thanks to these exceptional students,” said state Sen. Ray Musto, D-Luzerne/Carbon/Monroe.
The event was attended by the honor society and its moderator, Joyce Salvo; Sen. Musto; the Wyoming Valley Detachment of the Marine Corps League; and Santa Claus, who made a special appearance.
###vls/2007/bt
l:\print\releases\sitecleanup.118
|
CONTACT: Victoria L.
Stanish
|