Pennington Gap Awarded a $500 Green Grant

The Town of Pennington Gap is awarded $500 to help with litter cleanup as one of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s thirty Green Grant Awards in June.

The Town of Pennington Gap, located in the southwest corner of our Commonwealth, boasts the slogan, “Welcome to Pennington Gap, where smiling faces and outdoor recreation are a way of life.”  Living in a community that is free from litter in the landscape and waterways is one way the town can keep that slogan a reality.

Every year the town hosts an annual event called “Scouts Clean the River” where Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, as well as community volunteers, come together to help clean up the river along the walking trail.   The Town provides protective gear and litter pickers for all the volunteers and Scouts. They give t-shirts and a goodie bag with sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and other products to all participants.  At the end the day, the cleanup is celebrated with a pizza party.  Past years have gleaned several tons of garbage from the river and banks.

Funds from the Green Grants award will be used to purchase safety vests, litter pickers, work gloves, and other cleanup supplies for the event.

This is a wonderful opportunity for young residents to interact with their community and be a part of the solution for the next generation.  Congratulations!