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Volunteers to Clean Up During Upper Delaware Litter Sweep Dedicated to Ruth Jones
Photo: One notable item pulled from the river since Kittatinny Canoes began its On and Under the Delaware River Clean-ups in 1990 was 18 sticks of dynamite, which Ruth Jones displays in this undated photo. The UDC’s land-based 5th Annual Upper Delaware Litter Sweep in April 2025 is dedicated to her memory.
NARROWSBURG – A refreshing spring cleaning of the bi-state Upper Delaware River Valley will be powered by volunteers who sign up to organize and participate in litter pick-up events throughout the Earth Month of April.
It can be as simple as organizing friends and family to tackle trash in their neighborhoods and chosen public spaces to the more elaborate coordination of a municipal wide series of clean-ups from a central hub to provide instructions and dispense the free supplies.
All helpers will also receive safety bright team t-shirts featuring a “Don’t Be Trashy!” design by 2025 artwork contest winner Bonnie Matthews of Narrowsburg, NY. Litter Leaders will be sporting custom trucker hats designating their roles as clean-up captains for their groups.
The Upper Delaware Council’s (UDC) 5th Annual Upper Delaware Litter Sweep will be dedicated to Ruth M. Jones, dubbed “The Queen of the Delaware”, who passed away on Feb. 13, 2025 at the age of 92.
In 1990, this second-generation owner of Kittatinny Canoes and Campgrounds organized the first “On and Under the Delaware River Clean-up” which went on to win two first-place Take Pride in America Awards bestowed at The White House and several Recreation Achievement honors at the UDC’s River Valley Awards.
Now called the “Ruth Jones Memorial On and Under the Delaware River Clean-up” for the event in which volunteers paddle 8-10-mile river sections to gather trash from the shorelines, islands, and the river bottom with the canoes, breakfast, and camping in Barryville provided that new company owner Northgate Resorts has continued since assuming ownership in 2020, it’s scheduled this year for Sept. 7.
The UDC’s Litter Sweep is strictly land-based, within the 15 New York towns and Pennsylvania townships surrounding the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. An ongoing calendar with confirmed clean-up dates is posted at www.upperdelawarecouncil.org.
Contact UDC Administrative Support Stephanie Driscoll at (845) 252-3022 or stephanie@upperdelawarecouncil.org to sign up as a Litter Leader or volunteer.
The Upper Delaware Litter Sweep, for which WJFF Radio Catskill 90.5 FM serves as the media sponsor, is wholly supported by the donation of funds, goods, and services. Contributions of $50 and more will be acknowledged in event publicity.
To become a sponsor, send or deliver donations to: Upper Delaware Council, P.O. Box 192, 211 Bridge St., Narrowsburg, NY 12764 or contribute online through the ‘Donate Now’ button on the UDC website at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/upperdelawarecouncil.