ANTHONY TOWNSHIP -- As the rain came down, volunteers picked things up at the Montour Preserve near Washingtonville. Around 10 people spent the morning clearing debris from the lake area of the nature preserve.
"There's dozens of gardens, there's all sorts of trees, there's a never-ending supply of sticks to be picked up, small litter that's here and there, gardens to be cleaned up," explained Bob Stoudt.
"Picking up sticks, trash, for when the lawnmower comes around so he doesn't have to run over that kind of stuff," added Jerry Gresh.
Gresh is retired and is a frequent volunteer at the Montour Preserve.
"I like this place up here. It's really nice and I hope it keeps going so I just help out when I can."
The cleanup isn't just to beautify the preserve. It's to get the grounds ready for a race that takes place this weekend.
"We have the first-ever Montour Preserve Spring Fever trail run this Saturday, April 2, starting at 9 a.m.," said Stoudt.
Officials at the Montour Preserve say this weekend's event is to raise money for the nonprofit which now relies on donations to stay open.
The preserve has enough money to stay open this year and half of the needed money for next year. That's why the preserve is hosting more events like this weekend's race.
It is also trying to get the younger generation interested in helping.
Sophie Johns, age 8, enjoyed volunteering at the cleanup.
"We're picking up sticks and garbage."
If you'd like to volunteer for the rest of this week's cleanup days, you are asked to be at the Montour Preserve visitor's center parking lot Wednesday or Friday at 8 a.m.
