If you’ve ever enjoyed the potted flowers in front of downtown businesses, the butterfly garden at Trollinger Park, or the annual holiday decorations and Christmas parade down Main Street in December, you can thank Keep Whitesboro Beautiful (KWB).
Established in 2014, this non-profit organization has been making a difference in the community through the efforts of volunteers who donate their time and effort to make the city a more beautiful place to live.
However, in recent years, membership has been dwindling.
“We’ve lost some members, and some have moved away,” KWB President Michael Ross said. “We’re at a point where we really need some help.”
In July, an ice cream social to inform the community about the organization and volunteer opportunities had low attendance, and the organization is beginning to struggle.
It doesn’t take much to make a difference, and many hands make light work. Volunteering with KWB isn’t a huge time commitment, and there’s a job for everyone.
“If you’re interested in the wellbeing of your community, or have had an interest in getting involved in your community but are unsure if you have the time to make a commitment, Keep Whitesboro Beautiful might just be the perfect fit for you,” KWB Vice-President Mark Wennstedt said.
The organization meets the second Tuesday of each month at the First United Methodist Church of Whitesboro (Wesley Hall) at 6 p.m.
From garden clean-up to community-wide recycling projects, KWB has a variety of projects in which to participate. Volunteers can choose how involved they’d like to be based on their schedule.
“You can choose to be involved in only one or two things a year, or as many as you decide works for you and your schedule,” Wennstedt said.
KWB is doing good work, and their efforts are being noticed. Just last year, the organization was a recipient of the coveted Governor’s Community Achievement Award for outstanding community improvement, which earned them a $110,000 grant.
To learn more about Keep Whitesboro Beautiful or to become a member, visit them at a Thursday meeting. You may just find KWB to be a perfect fit.