To the Editor:

On Saturday April 8, 2017, the Rural Preservation Association held its 21st annual Cleansweep for the four Northwestern Lehigh townships.

Though it is always a day of hard work, friends and neighbors coming together in community participation never fails to make it enjoyable.

Lowhill Township again generously donated the use of its facilities, and the township crew assisted in preparing for the event by coordinating placement of the containers at the township site.

Many RPA members volunteered for the morning, as did several young men from Lehigh County Juvenile Probation. Everyone working together made the event go smoothly.

This year, Cleansweep collected 3,080 pounds of steel scrap, 3,900 pounds of appliances, 30 pounds of nonferrous metals, 200 gallons of used oil, three containers of trash, a tractor trailer load of tires, a barrel of used baling twine, a box truck full of household items, toys, books, and furniture, and approximately two tons of electronics including 126 TVs and monitors, 18 microwaves, 350 pounds of household batteries, 440 fluorescent bulbs, and 48 pounds of ballasts.

We also donated several boxes and feed bags full of wires and cords to the Slatedale-Emerald Lions Club for copper recycling.

The RPA would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the following participants who made the day a success: Generous local businesses Berger Sanitation, E. Schneider and Sons, Systech Environmental, Blue Mountain Equipment, Snyder’s Second Chances, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley, Heidel Hollow Farm, as well as Travis, Bill, Tom, Mike, and Adam and helpers, Lowhill Township and road crew, the group from Juvenile Probation, and all the RPA members who assisted with everything from refreshments to donation collecting.

The RPA was pleased to offer, from proceeds after expenses were covered, a $2,000 scholarship to Hana Toth as she pursues a career in biological engineering.

To everyone who participated from the community with diligent recycling and generous donations, thank you for being a part of Cleansweep.

Nancy Jakum

secretary

RPA-NLC