Big Spring Recognized as Gold Star Affiliate by Keep Texas Beautiful

BIG SPRING, TEXAS – Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB), a statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement non-profit organization, recently recognized local organization Keep Big Spring Beautiful as a Gold Star Affiliate, a designation granted to 8 affiliates of KTB’s nearly 300 affiliates. Gold Star recognition is the membership recognition highest status any community affiliate can achieve.

In 2004, the organization introduced the concept of Gold Star recognition to reward those communities who sought to go above and beyond the established requirements. To remain in good standing with KTB, community affiliates must submit a report, pay dues, attend training and participate in a KTB-endorsed activity annually.

To achieve Gold Star status, affiliates must share information on their mission and goals, answer questions about their economic development and diversity and inclusion practices, participate in the Beautify Texas Awards or Governor’s Community Achievement Awards programs, and provide a letter of support from their community. KTB formally recognized Gold Star communities during its 55th Annual Conference held recently in June.

“Our affiliates are the backbone of our organization. We are proud to honor those going above and beyond to keep their communities clean and beautiful,” says Suzanne Kho, Executive Director of Keep Texas Beautiful. “Our Gold Star Affiliates are educating and engaging community members, actively recruiting and managing volunteers, hosting cleanup and beautification events throughout their community and so much more.”

In 2021 alone, KTB affiliates engaged 41,550 volunteers who contributed 190,094 hours to collect 3.25 million pounds of waste and recyclables from Texas roadways, trails, and waterways. Keep Big Spring Beautiful successfully implemented programs to clean up litter, reduce and recycle waste, educate local citizens, and beautify and enhance the local community.

According to Liz Hafley, Keep Big Spring Beautiful Vice President of Social Media, the local organization reported that they had 397 volunteers who served a combined total of 496 hours and collected 11,175 lbs of trash. She stated that last year, Keep Big Spring Beautiful had collected 2.5 tons of trash just during Toasty Tuesdays, usually held during the summer months of the year.

Hafley told KBest News that KBSD does more than just pick up trash, they also plant flowers and trees, and are open to any ideas someone might have to help beautify Big Spring.

For more information on how to participate in Keep Big Spring Beautiful, check out their Facebook page or contact Liz Hafley at 432-934-4068.

(Photo: Keep Big Spring Beautiful)