Houston residents won’t be pulling up their sleeves to help make their community greener just yet.
Lingering snow blanketing the ground has caused Houston’s annual pitch-in week, a successful litter control and waste reduction program, to be postponed.
“We have to wait for the snow to melt to expose the garbage to be picked up,” explained Bonnie Perepelecta, office manager for the Houston District Chamber of Commerce, which is coordinating this province-wide event locally.
Perepelecta says this annual program has helped keep Houston clean while enabling a large portion of the community to work together toward a common goal.
“Over the years we have had wonderful engagement from volunteers, businesses, schools, non-profit organizations and community groups,” she said.
This year the program is gathering over 700 volunteers, who will pick up garbage in all areas of Houston - with the exception of the area known as Industrial Site - using bags and gloves provided by the chamber.
Volunteer groups include the District of Houston, Bulkley Valley Credit Union, Stream Keepers of the Upper Bulkley River, Houston Christian School, Houston Friendship Centre, Houston Museum Society, Houston Secondary School, Houston Seniors Association No. 97, B.C. Timber Sales and Service B.C. office, Royal Bank of Canada, Silverthorne Elementary School, Twain Sullivan Elementary School, 3020 Royal Canadian Army Cadets Corps, Houston Fire Attack Base, Houston Public Library, and Nadina Community Futures.
Pitch-in week was originally scheduled to take place April 16-21, 2018. The new date still hasn’t been determined.
Pitch-in Canada is a national not-for-profit charitable environmental organization. All pitch-in week participants can download a certificate of participation from pitch-in.ca and customize the community and participants name, as a sign of recognition for their participation.
For more information, contact the Houston and District Chamber of Commerce at 250-845-7640 or go to www.pitch-in.ca.