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NARROWSBURG – The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) relied on Litter Leaders, volunteers, and sponsors to make its 3rd Annual Upper Delaware Litter Sweep a success.

While land-based clean-ups officially took place between April 22-30 throughout the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River valley, eager volunteers started their spring cleaning early and are continuing to organize events into this summer.

The UDC handles permitting; publicity; information exchanges to build a network of helpers; the purchase and distribution of supplies including grabbers, gloves, and bags; ordering team t-shirts; assistance with safety and disposal instructions; and updating schedules.

The 2023 commemorative orange t-shirts featured a friendly, litter-sweeping turtle designed by Maggie Clauss from Platform Industries Custom Screen Printing of Honesdale, PA.

Starting from a $1,488.31 balance carried over from last year’s Litter Sweep, the 2023 event raised $6,250.76 and had $3,935.16 in expenses, providing $2,315.60 as seed money for 2024.

Sullivan County Legislator Nadia Rajsz, who serves as the Town of Lumberland’s UDC representative, secured a first-time $2,000 allocation from her District 2 discretionary funds.

Organizations and businesses supporting the 3rd Annual Upper Delaware Litter Sweep were the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, Inc. ($500), Delaware River Basin Commission ($250), Callicoon Business Association, Inc. ($250), Callicoon Pantry ($250), Friends of the Upper Delaware River, Inc. ($100), Land and Water Realty LLC ($100), Sweetwater Guide Service/Evan Padua ($100), Grace Church of Callicoon ($100), Pond Eddy United Methodist Church Congregation ($100), The Dirt Diva/Adrianne Picciano ($100), Catskills Pride ($50), and Smith’s Party Tents ($50).

UDC board members and area residents also generously contributed funds, including 2023 Chairperson Aaron Robinson of Shohola Township, Secretary-Treasurer Al Henry of Berlin Township, Town of Highland Representative Andy Boyar, and Town of Fremont Rep. Jim Greier, along with Barbara Kitchen from Narrowsburg, Connie Lloyd from Beach Lake, Leah Casner from Equinunk, Lydia Joy Langley from Long Eddy, and Samuel & Agnes Bonfante from Hackettstown, NJ.

In addition to Platform Industries offering a discount on the order of 250 t-shirts for the volunteers, donated services and goods were provided by Next Gen Dumpsters, Joe Canavan, Frank Edwards, Two Queens Coffee, Stickett Inn, Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce, Ascalona and Kittatinny Campgrounds, Town of Highland Lions Club, Trout Unlimited, Town of Highland Highway Department, Rohman’s Pub, the Delaware River Club, and Dania LaScola organized an April 22 Earth Day benefit at The Callicoon Marketplace to help promote the Litter Sweep.

Litter Leaders who organized clean-ups in the 15 NY and PA river towns and townships and beyond included Ashley Bagdonas of the Upper Delaware Council and In Memory of Sean Davis; Lara Bicko of Platform Industries (Shohola); Larry Richardson (Cochecton); Al Henry and the Beach Lake Hunting & Fishing Club (Berlin); Tess McBeath of the Town of Delaware; Zach Scheitlin of the Callicoon Business Association; Tanyia Vannatta of Wayne Bank; Andy Boyar, John Pizzolato, and Frank Guzman (Highland); Jim Thompson from Growing Lackawaxen; Bethany & Johnny Montana (Westfall); Ginny & Bill Dudko (Deerpark) and the Pond Eddy United Methodist Church; Georgia Skuza of Keep Nature Wild (Manchester & Buckingham), Brandon Kent & Nikole Snyder and the Narrowsburg Beautification Group (Tusten), Gail and Bill Bolte (Fremont), Teresa Kehagias and the 4-H Horselovers Club (Damascus), Keep Hawley-Honesdale Beautiful (Rt. 652), Andy Weber of the National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River; The Cooperage Project Pop-up Club; Kate Waldrep and Girl Scout Troop 50266 (Honesdale); Krystyn Strouse of Eagles Landing Getaways (Westfall); and Friends of the Upper Delaware River (Hancock).

For information on the UDC and its activities, visit www.upperdelawarecouncil.org, www.facebook.com/UpperDelawareCouncil, Instagram @upperdelawarecouncil, and Twitter @UpperDelCouncil.