By Joe Stewart

Despite chilly and wet conditions, more than 60 dedicated volunteers came out last month to participate in Keep Wrentham Beautiful’s (KWB) annual spring cleanup, collecting over 70 bags of roadside litter from across town.  

The event, traditionally held around Earth Day (April 22), took place this year on Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13. Volunteers braved the rain to pick up trash along Wrentham’s streets, with single-use plastics—particularly miniature alcohol bottles and drink containers—making up the majority of the waste.  

“We’re so grateful to everyone who came out to help,” said Stephan King, KWB co-chair. “Even in tough weather, our community showed up to make a difference.”  

King and fellow co-chair Laura Beltis took over leadership of KWB in 2024 after founder Donna Nye, who had organized cleanups for years, moved away from Wrentham. The group focuses on litter control and fostering community involvement, emphasizing strength in numbers, and that collective effort leads to real impact.  

This year’s cleanup was supported by sponsors BW Research Partnership, Wrentham Cooperative Bank, and Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, which funded trash bags and grabbers for volunteers. KWB also coordinated with the Wrentham Department of Public Works, which will handle disposal of the collected garbage.  

More Initiatives Ahead  

KWB is already planning its next projects, including a tree-planting effort in partnership with the Wrentham Conservation Commission, the Town Common Landscape-Memorial Committee, and Tree Warden Ray Rose. River birch, red maple, and possibly red oak trees, supplied by Keep Massachusetts Beautiful with funding from North Attleboro Subaru, were expected to arrive on April 16. Volunteers are needed to help plant and “adopt a tree” to care for it through the summer.  

Additionally, KWB is preparing to launch an “Adopt a Street” program, encouraging local groups to take responsibility for ongoing litter control on designated roads.  

Mark Your Calendars  

Residents can look forward to KWB’s fall cleanup, scheduled around Wrentham Day—likely two weeks after the event. The organization will also host a booth at Wrentham Day, featuring a large canvas where children can contribute their artistic touch.  

For more information on upcoming events or to get involved, contact the co-chairs at [email protected] or visit https://bit.ly/KWBchapter.