THANKS TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS!

This past Saturday, April 30th, 2016; was the annual Little River Chapter Great Smoky Mountain National Park clean-up. Starting at MetCalf Bottoms and focusing on  the heavily traveled Little River Road area. The morning started with a hot pot of coffee donated by Mayfly Coffee of Chattanooga, TN and Smoky Mountain Anglers of Gatlinburg, TN. Everyone then received instructions from Matt Kulp and Caleb of the Park Service along with safety vests, gloves, and trash bags. Crews of four and five volunteers then jumped in park service trucks where they were dropped off to start the trash pickup detail. Everything from an I-phone, car mirrors, and beer cans were collected over a three hour period along with the usual trash that finds it's way to the roadside. How anyone can litter in a place like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is beyond me! The Little River TU chapter has been doing this for years and it is an honor that our chapter is always invited to help and join in the cook-out at lunch time.

Mike Bryant, president of Little River TU and TU Tennessee Councilboard member and I along with a volunteer cooking crew prepared a burger and hot dog lunch with all the "fixins". It was a great day in the park of volunteer service and fellowship with folks representing  TU, Little River Outfitters of Townsend, "VOLS on the FLY" from UT-KNOXcampus, Project Healing Waters member, Dan Moneymaker and other groups. Hats off to all the volunteers, the Park Service staff and those with other conservation groups who gave of their time. The best part was the rain held off till we were packed up, join us next year for a great event in the Park.