Breaking previous records, approximately 130 volunteers helped spruce up Highlands and surrounding highways on April 23, as part of the annual Plateau Pickup, organized and hosted by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC.
Plateau Pickup did not only include highways, pictured is a volunteer cleaning up Oak Street in Highlands.
Volunteers collected approximately 15 tons of garbage along the roadways.
Highlands Mayor Pat Taylor again provided transportation to collect the bags of garbage, as did Steve Mehder, Rick Siegel, and James Farrish.
Organizations that provided partnership and support to make the event possible include Town of Highlands, Highlands Police Department, N.C. Department of Transportation, Macon County Sheriff’s Office, and N.C. State Patrol.
Volunteers picking up trash on Hwy 106 just outside of town.
Groups that participated with a sizable number of volunteers include Highlands School Interact Club, Old Edwards Hospitality Group, Highlands Methodist Church, Highlands Plateau Greenway, Mountain Garden Club, Highlands Biological Station, MountainTop Rotary, Highlands Rotary, and Scaly Mountain Community Association.
Volunteers by Stoney Creek along Hwy 106.
“We’re incredibly grateful for our project partners and the record-number of volunteers – groups, families and individuals – who spent a gorgeous Saturday in the mountains collecting garbage discarded along our roadways,” said Kaye McHan, executive director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. “We treasure our beautiful mountains and charming town, and it is wonderful to see the area clean and green as a result of this community effort.”
Getting kids involved as a family picks up trash along the Highlands Plateau Greenway.
Dressed in the provided safety vests and gloves, and carrying pick-up tools and garbage bags, the volunteers canvassed stretches of U.S. 64 towards Cashiers as well as Franklin, N.C. 28, N.C. 106 and most of downtown Highlands.
A volunteer gets deep into the brush along Hwy 106 for Plateau Pickup 2022.
Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park served as the event’s starting and ending destination. The Highlands Chamber/Visit Highlands, NC provided two meals for the volunteers – breakfast from Calders Coffee Café and lunch from Secret Garden Market.
As a token of appreciation, volunteers received a t-shirt.
For more information about Plateau Pickup or other Highlands events, click HERE.
Article courtesy of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce