Last Saturday, Perdue associates gathered to help beautify their local community by participating in Project Clean Stream, a company-wide effort to help protect the environment in the communities where associates live and work, for the third year in a row.
Volunteers kicked off the event cleaning up the roadside in front of the Perdue Processing facility on Long Street in Rockingham, then moved to clean up both at Blewitt Falls and Hitchcock Creek.
Rockingham’s Plant Environmental Manager Lee Butler has been organizing the project for several years. Each year he takes before and after photos of the areas that undergo cleaning.
Associates head out to the assigned areas with orange vests and garbage bags, many bringing their spouses and children with them to help. Each year several tons of trash are gathered and weighed for record.
“It was a very successful event,” said Butler. “The weather was awesome and our participation turn-out was the highest it’s ever been. Doing both sites together this year was the right way to go as they were cleaner than they were before our earlier events.
“Having more associates allowed us to split into two teams — one for each site and cleaning up the area in front of the plant … it also made it much more efficient. This year we were able to get collected trash on trees and slow moving areas in Hitchcock Creek and everyone came away with a more positive feeling and sense of accomplishment. It was truly a team effort,” Buttler said.
Butler said the project is a good opportunity for associates to get together outside of work with their families while giving back to the community.
Jerred Brown, Perdue associate, said they had a great day.
“We had breakfast and then headed out there,” said Brown. “We were there ‘til probably around noon. We collected plastics, bottles, tires, cans and wrappers. Some of it washes down to the creek and other stuff looks like it might come from fishers or people hanging out down by the creek.”
According to Brown, there were around 60 people helping out, including friends of associates and children.
“It’s a good way to get out on a beautiful day, enjoy each other’s company and it’s a good team builder,” said Brown. “We enjoy giving back to the community and it turned out well and we’ll continue to do it.”
— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@civitasmedia.com.
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