Lancaster residents encouraged to lend a hand

LANCASTER- Did you know that if every person picked up just one piece of litter today, there would be more than 300 million fewer pieces of litter?

It is important for Lancaster residents to take pride in their community as well as to take that extra step to keep their community clean. This Sunday, April 22, the volunteer group called, “Keeping Lancaster’s Environment Active Naturally” (KLEAN) will kick off its cleanup initiative in the Village of Lancaster.

The idea of this program was brought to the village board by Lancaster resident Frank Maddock, who noticed that garbage and littering was becoming a problem in the village. Taking it upon himself, Maddock has continuously walked up and down village streets for the last few months cleaning up, which I am sure is not a fun thing to do. Who likes cleaning up after other people? But that doesn’t seem to matter to Maddock.

All I have to say is this is an amazing effort made by one individual. So, I guess one individual can really make a difference and here is proof. But now my question has become, “can you imagine the impact if others helped?” Remind yourself that not littering may be one small action, but it's something you can do and small actions do add up.

While I know there are other individuals in Lancaster that make a difference, I have seen firsthand the change Maddock has brought to the village when I attend the Monday night board meetings.

Because this is a new initiative and I enjoy recognizing those in the Lancaster community, who make a difference, I would like this article to serve as recognition for Maddock, as well as the board and volunteers of KLEAN.

I would also like to encourage other residents to help out. If you can’t make it Sunday, don’t worry, there are plans to make this an ongoing effort. But in the meantime, take that extra step and pick up that rolling plastic cup that someone threw out their window onto your neighborhood street or that piece of cardboard that mysteriously came from somewhere. Don’t just think yourself, “it is not mine so why should I care,” that is not the right attitude to have.

I am just saying, think twice before you walk by a piece of trash and think before you let the next piece of litter get out of your hand. Enjoy making a difference, getting exercise, getting to know people better, and having cleaner surroundings.

Listed below are some reasons from Green Eco Services that may motivate you to help out. They include:

• Clean communities have a better chance of attracting new business and residents and tourists. Every year there are numerous vehicle accidents caused by litter.

• Litter also harms plants and degrades natural areas.

• Litter kills or injures animals.

• Litter carries germs

• Careless dumping of hazardous waste seeps into surrounding soil and cause ground water pollution.

• Litter is expensive: The amount of money being spent picking up litter could be used in repairing roads, hiring more fireman and police. Long term. Less revenue to city, county and state coffers, meaning higher taxes.

For those interested in participating in the KLEAN event, registration will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, April 22, behind the Lancaster Municipal Building, located at 5423 Broadway. Cleaning crews will begin at 11:30 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.

“The mission of KLEAN is to empower residents and businesses in the Village of Lancaster to take ownership over the cleanliness and the wellbeing of their community. KLEAN provides a wholesome venue for volunteers to be stewards of the earth and lead by example in making our neighborhoods and business sites attractive and clean in an environmentally friendly manner.”