Moody’s Texas Trash Off huge Success!

26. Apr, 2012 0 Comments

by Sarah Melton, Director of KMB

Saturday morning’s beautiful blue sky and 73 degree temperature was a perfect backdrop to a successful day of clean-up and volunteer camaraderie with a group of 75 of Moody’s “finest”! Keep Moody Beautiful sponsored our 3rd annual Great American Texas Trash Off at Kitchen’s Park on Saturday, April 21st. KMB would like to sincerely thank all those who volunteered and helped us to clean up the streets of Moody!

Special thanks to the Moody ISD! Superintendent Dr. Chane Roscoe, along with elementary and high school principals, Mrs. Heltenberg and Mr. Satterwhite brought along teachers and student groups to compete for the TTO Treasure Hunt Prizes. Most importantly, however, these youth and adult volunteers came out to learn the importance of being a part of the solution, rather than a part of the problem! Other teams from the Baptist and Methodist Church youth came to do their share as well. Painted purple plastic water bottles (PPPWB) placed along the streets and gutters of Moody were each awarded $10 to the lucky volunteer who found them. The winners of these “Cash for Trash” purple bottles were Samuel Shepard, John Price, Haley Bowan, Trish Henrey, Thea Dixon, Abby Munoz, Jonathon Deveney, Karisma Allen, Amy Taylor, Jeff Allen, Taylor Petty, and Kyle Dean. The First Baptist Youth group won $20 for the “Most Unusual” item found in the Treasure Hunt, which was a BB gun target. The $25 Grand Prize Treasure Hunt winners were from the First Methodist Youth group.

KMB would like to recognize all of our very generous sponsors for this year’s Texas Trash Off! Donations were received from Lucy’s Cafe, Scott and White Healthcare, D & S Conoco Pit Stop, IESI, First National Bank of Moody, Circle H Grain and Feed, and Cornerstone Roofing. Thanks so much to these business’ for “giving back” to Moody. Now let us give back to them by “Shopping Local!”

A delicious lunch of barbeque chili hotdogs, chips, and soft drinks was prepared and served by Moody’s own renowned barbeque chefs, Councilman Red Watkins, Honorary Sam Bass, and KMB’s 2011 “Man of the Year”, Jerry Cagle. While sitting in the shade or sun enjoying our picnic lunch, we listened to special country music “picks” from the collection of DJ Marc Shepard.

A huge 400 yard dumpster bin was donated by IESI Waste Management for this Great American clean-up event. By the end of the morning, it was estimated that 3 tons of litter, metal, and plastic debris filled the bin! All of this litter coming off of the streets of Moody! This massive poundage of litter reminds us to take a moment and be aware of what we are using on a daily basis! (Ok, here goes) One time use plastic packaging containers are literally filling up our landfills and oceans! (plastic drink bottles and plastic bags are the worst culprits) It is literally an epidemic! Plastic packaging is biodegrading into small colorful pieces of bite size plastic which ends up in the oceans and then in the stomachs of our fish and wildlife! PLEASE use old fashion glass or recyclable aluminum containers as much as possible! Please “THINK” before you buy things in one time plastic packaging containers and take your own recycle bag or container for shopping…stainless steel coffee mugs please. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle! If we take care of Planet Earth, she will abundantly provide for all of our needs! We have got to stop this plastic madness! If we refuse to accept plastic, companies will stop packaging this way. Most of the plastic is NOT recycled! Even if you diligently put them in your handy dandy green recycle bin, thinking that “All is Well.” Most is being sent to CHINA! Plastic does NOT just go away! It is here for THOUSANDS of years! KMB main educational focus is to educate Moody residents and youth regarding this very important issue on behave of our Beloved Planet Earth.

Huge thanks and appreciation to KMB Sargeant Jerry Cagle for heading up the Texas Trash Off event. Thank goodness for his strong back! Special recognition also to Bobbie Cagle, Katie Shepard, Martha Bass, and Helen Caperton for using your hidden talents to make this event so special!

And lastly, in case you were wondering…Keep Moody Beautiful did not win the Governor’s Achievement award from Keep Texas Beautiful this past year. We were disappointed and somewhat deflated, but not defeated! We will “Try, Try Again!” and “Never ever give Up!” We have realized how much we have to truly covet this award…probably 3 years of consistent effort should do it!