Members of Keep Whitesboro Beautiful (KWB) gathered at the First United Methodist Church Wesley Hall last Thursday to celebrate the organization’s accomplishments over the past year.
“Tonight is a time for us to come together, enjoy good food and spend quality time together,” president Michael Ross told attendees in his welcome address.
The Whitesboro ISD food services department catered a delicious dinner of lasagna or country fried chicken with green beans, mashed potatoes and bread options. Strawberry and chocolate cakes were available for dessert.
In his presentation to the group, Ross said he wanted to recognize the work of the volunteers whose hearts are in the right place and who help make KWB a successful organization.
Highlighting some of the club’s accomplishments, Ross reminded everyone that in January, the group held its 15th anniversary dinner honoring the organization’s founding members. That same month, KWB placed third in the state for the Governor’s Community Achievement Awards (GCAA) grant program.
In March, KWB held a waterway cleanup in conjunction with Keep Texas Beautiful and the Keep Texas Waterways Clean program. They also prepped the flower beds at Trollinger Park for spring.
The organization hosted club elections in April, as well as held its annual e-waste recycle fundraiser where members of the community could donate their old electronics. In June, KWB held its community festival where 49 local kids took a litter pledge, promising to throw trash away where it belongs.
That same month, the organization helped the city celebrate its 150th anniversary. They also hosted a food drive that brought in 370 pounds of food for Your Neighbor’s House food pantry in Whitesboro.
KWB initiated an Adopt-a-Pot program, providing potted plants to area businesses who in turn promised to maintain them. This project was funded by money raised by Shop Small, a holiday shopping event hosted by downtown merchants.
In September, KWB began working with the Whitesboro City Council on a downtown beautification project that would bring benches, potted plants and trees to the downtown area. October brought the annual Peanut Festival, where KWB’s roasted peanuts sold out in record time.
The organization was happy to partner with the GFWC History Club to help place flags on veterans’ graves at Oakwood Cemetery.
In December, KWB with the Whitesboro Area Chamber of Commerce hosted “Candy Cane Christmas,” a downtown holiday extravaganza that included a parade, tree lighting ceremony, free horse-drawn carriage rides, visit with Santa and gift give-away. It was one of the biggest holiday events that Whitesboro has experienced, thanks to the work of KWB’s 40 volunteers who helped make the event a success.
“My biggest takeaway from the year is collaboration,” Ross said at the end of his presentation. “Working with the History Club, the city, the Chamber – it’s exciting to be a part of pulling more people in to the work of KWB.”
