Litter Sweep draws more than 450 volunteers

More than 450 volunteers fanned out across the river valley throughout April and early May to help rid roadsides and riverbanks of trash during 21 organized clean-ups that comprised the 5th Annual Upper Delaware Litter Sweep.

The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) dedicated the 2025 event to the late “Queen of the Delaware” Ruth M. Jones and received more support than ever from the Litter Leaders and contributors who make it all possible.

Litter Sweep volunteers sported bright yellow “Don’t Be Trashy!” t-shirts designed by artwork contest winner Bonnie Matthews of Narrowsburg, NY. The shirts included the UDC’s Land-Water-People and media sponsor WJFF Radio Catskill logos.

Sullivan County Legislature Chairperson and Town of Lumberland UDC Representative Nadia Rajsz allocated $2,000 of her County District 2 discretionary funds to support the cause.

Financial donations were also received from the Delaware River Basin Commission ($500); Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, Inc. ($500); Basha Kill Area Association ($100); Grace Church of Callicoon, NY, ($100); and Beach Lake resident Connie Lloyd ($75).

Northgate Resorts, owners of Kittatinny Canoes & Campgrounds donated all garbage bags, 24 trash grabbers and 10 casesof water to the sweep. Jones was a former proprietor and she founded the “On and Under the Delaware River Clean-up” in 1990. That clean up will continue on Sept. 7 in Barryville.

WJFF 90.5 FM promoted the sweep through two live “Radio Chatskill” interviews broadcast on Feb. 3 and Mar. 17, along with two rounds of drive-time public service announcements.

Litter Leaders who rounded up crews of helpers and occasionally donations of services or food for their clean-ups on these dates in these New York towns and Pennsylvania townships were:

Hancock – Friends of the Upper Delaware River, Inc. (May 10)

Fremont – UDC Chairperson and Town Representative Jim Rodgers (April 12); and the Roscoe Family Narture Club (May 3)

Delaware – Town Clerk Tess McBeath (April 19)

Cochecton – UDC Representative and Upper Delaware Scenic Byway Secretary-Treasurer Larry H. Richardson (April 22)

Tusten – Narrowsburg Beautification Group (April 26)

Highland – UDC Representative Christine Martin and Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce Vice-President Cathy Daboul (April 19)

Lumberland – UDC Alternate Frank Guzmán’s Lumberland Litter Squad (April 19); and the Homestead School (May 10)

Deerpark – National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River led by Ranger Susie Kaspar with Boy Scout Troop 1071 (April 13); UDC Representative and Alternate Ginny & Bill Dudko (April 17); and Sparrowbush Engine Co. (April 28)

Damascus – Town of Tusten UDC Representative Evan Padua, Damascus Township UDC Representative Jeff Dexter, and Damascus Manor Community Center’s Linda Dexter (April 13); and the Wayne County 4-H Horse Lovers Club (April 26)

Berlin – UDC Representative Al Henry (April 7); and NPS Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River led by Facilities Manager Jessica Weinman (April 23)

Lackawaxen – Courtney Barden from Run, Walk Lackawaxen (April 14); Outdoor Nurture Inc. (April 22); and NPS Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (April 23)

Shohola – Homeschool Group coordinated by Ashley Briggs (April 14); and UDC Representative Aaron Robinson & Shohola Tax Collector Juli Fuhse (May 10)

Westfall – Junior Ranger Johnny Montana and mom Bethany Montana (April 27)

Outside the river corridor: Honesdale Borough along the Lackawaxen River – The Cooperage Project Pop-up Afterschool Club (April 15).

After purchasing 475 screen-printed t-shirts and 30 Litter Leader hats from Platform Industries of Honesdale and supplies including 500 pairs of gloves, trash grabbers, safety signage, traffic cones, and banners – offset by an opening balance of $3,923.44 from 2024 and 2025 financial contributions – the UDC’s dedicated Litter Sweep account has a $2,544.01 balance as seed money for 2026.

For a look at photos of the sweep, the UDC has both Facebook and Instagram pages.