WEST CHESTER, PA — A local resident’s dedication to environmental stewardship and community cleanliness has earned her a prestigious honor. Kelly McDowell, founder of the volunteer group People Who Use Trash Cans, was named Volunteer of the Year by the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful statewide program.
The Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz, and Eric Roe presented McDowell with a citation, recognizing her significant contribution to keeping the county clean and beautiful. The award was bestowed through the County’s affiliate group, Keep Chester County Beautiful, represented by staff members Rachael Griffith and Carrie Conwell.
McDowell’s journey began in 2013 when she organized a litter clean-up along a stretch of Route 1 in southern Chester County. Her first pick-up resulted in more than 450 bags of trash being collected. Since then, McDowell has gathered over 11,100 bags of litter and 430 tires, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to environmental preservation.
Since 2017, McDowell’s group has hosted the Great American Cleanup of PA – Chester County every weekend from March through May. These annual cleanups typically draw between 50 to 100 volunteers, all inspired by McDowell’s passion for a litter-free environment.
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Pennsylvanians to maintain clean and beautiful communities. The Volunteer of the Year Program is one of its initiatives that honors outstanding volunteers for their dedication and passion within their community.
The organization’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the state by promoting environmental stewardship and community engagement. They do this through various services, including environmental cleanup, youth programs, public education, stakeholder training and education, and technical assistance.
To date, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and its network of volunteers have picked up nearly 155 million pounds of trash from across the state. They’ve also disposed of over 1,159,712 tires and have educated high school students on topics such as litter prevention, waste management, recycling, civic engagement, and social media marketing.
In addition to its cleanup efforts, the organization also works closely with stakeholders to promote sustainable practices and offers guidance on community beautification and environmental initiatives. It’s an effort that has seen the participation of over 2.8 million volunteers since the organization’s inception.
For those inspired by McDowell’s work and want to support People Who Use Trash Cans and the Great American Cleanup of PA – Chester County, they can visit the group’s Facebook page. More information about Keep Chester County Beautiful can be found at chescoplanning.org/Environmental/KCCB/ or by following @keepchestercountybeautiful on social media.
McDowell’s recognition underlines the significant impact individual citizens can make in their communities. Her dedication to environmental cleanliness serves as a shining example of the power of volunteerism and community engagement. Through her actions, McDowell is not just keeping Pennsylvania beautiful – she’s inspiring others to do the same.
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