Despite unfavorable weather conditions, approximately 200 West Fallowfield Christian School (WFCS) students from preschool through high school, along with their parents, participated in Trash Stash, an effort to clean up local roadways and parks while also raising money for the school's operating budget.

This year's event, held on April 12, coincided with PennDOT's "Pick Up PA" and "Keep PA Beautiful" campaign initiatives.

Participants, wearing green Trash Stash T-shirts with a new logo, along with orange safety vests and gloves, picked up trash at Parkesburg's Minch Park, along Route 10 near Hershey's Farm Market and Walmart, as well as other locations. Some students remained at the school to clean up the playground and the surrounding property.

Additionally, WFCS had a dumpster available at the school from Harris Metals of Coatesville where school family members and the community could donate recyclable metal, also to benefit the school.

By the end of the day, students and parent volunteers had collected over 100 bags of trash. "In addition, we filled two large containers with metals," reported WFCS principal Heather Furlong, noting that for all the scrap metal collected, Harris Metals donated 100% of the proceeds to the school.

Prior to the Trash Stash, WFCS students sent donation letters to family members, friends and local businesses to financially support them as they collected the trash. This was taken into consideration when deciding to go ahead with the event on April 12 despite the weather conditions.

"We have a tentative rain date. However, in my 12 years, we have always gone rain or shine," said Furlong. "This year, it was rain, sleet and cold temperatures. We mailed out over 1,000 letters, and we wanted to honor our word and be good stewards."

The school was scheduled to host a Trash Stash celebration on Earth Day, April 22, where prizes were awarded to those who raised the most money and who wrote the most letters.

WFCS is located at 795 Fallowfield Road, Atglen. WFCS offers a Little Falcons Preschool for youngsters ages 3 to 5, a full-day kindergarten program and classes for students through 12th grade. WFCS, founded in 1941, serves students from the Avon Grove, Coatesville, Octorara, Oxford, Pequea Valley, Solanco and Unionville-Chadds Ford area school districts. Busing is provided, and financial aid is available.

For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/westfallowfieldchristianschool or http://www.wfcs.org or call the school office at 610-593-5011.