In 1998, the Rotary Club of Twin Valley joined PennDOT's Adopt-a-Highway program, agreeing to keep a 2.6-mile stretch of Route 23 in Elverson litter free.

This year, club members decided to add a new fundraising component to their annual roadway cleanup day, calling it "Litter Into Literacy." As part of the effort, the club asked for sponsors, with proceeds donated to the Honey Brook Community Library and the Village Library of Morgantown, as well as the Rock Hollow Woods Environmental Learning Center (RHWELC) in Birdsboro.

Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors were asked to donate a suggested amount per foot, yard or mile, respectively. Literacy Booster Sponsors were invited to donate an amount of their choosing.

On April 30, Rotary Club of Twin Valley members were joined in the cleanup effort by representatives from RHWELC and Twin Valley High School (TVHS), including TVHS principal William Clements and Jeff Bateman, TVHS math teacher and National Honor Society adviser.

Wearing bright orange vests and work gloves, participants could be seen throughout the day along Route 23 from the Twin Valley Fire Department east to the Brandywine Branch Distillery picking up a great amount of debris ranging from old tires to litter.

"We hold a cleanup once a year, but the idea to (add) a fundraiser came from one of our members, Bruce Hartshorne," explained Rotary Club member Ron Moyer. "We sent a flyer out and asked individuals and businesses to (sponsor the event)."

Moyer noted that other club fundraisers include Empty Bowls for the Twin Valley Food Pantry and the Tri-County Art Show and Sale, which features the work of local artists and potters and TVHS art students.

"Our primary fundraiser, our annual art show, was not held during the two years of the pandemic, so we got creative and sought sponsors to help offset the funds usually generated by the art show," said Rotary member Mary Ellen Mahan. "This year, we decided to partner with the Rock Hollow Woods Environmental Learning Center since the road cleaning is an effort to improve the state of our environment. They helped us advertise the event and solicit program sponsors."

Mahan announced that the Rotary Club of Twin Valley is awarding $1,000 to RHWELC to create new streamside learning stations. The club was also able to secure a matching grant of $1,000 from the Gundaker Foundation, which will also be presented to the organization.

"The libraries both agreed to use some of the funds we will be awarding to purchase books with an environmental focus," noted Mahan. "This means that our partnering efforts allowed us to maintain a focus on the environment across the board with all of our partners."

The Rotary Club of Twin Valley, a community service organization, meets on Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m. at the Windmill Family Restaurant, 2838 Main St., Morgantown. New members are welcome. To learn more, visit http://www.twinvalleyrotary.org.