Six-year-old inspires Round Top Cleanup Day

ROUND TOP―Armed with bags and a strong sense of purpose, volunteers came out in force this past weekend to clean up trash along the streets of Round Top. And it all started with a child on a mission.

Not long ago, six-year-old Rhea was out for a walk and noticed litter on the sides of the roads. Her mom, Monica, said Rhea talked the entire way about how harmful litter is for the planet, wildlife and people.

“We picked up that piece of garbage but Rhea proclaimed that it wasn't enough. That we needed to do more. She wanted to do something bigger,” Monica said.

“So, as a mom, I had to go with the momentum of my daughter and show that she can make a difference,” she added.

The Round Top Volunteer Fire Company and Ladies Auxiliary, where Rhea’s grandparents are members, was approached and Monica said they agreed to host a cleanup event.

“They are the center of our community. The firehouse is filled with many wonderful people who are always looking to help. We knew that with them as host we would be able to make a big difference,” Monica said.

On Saturday, 35 sets of helping hands assembled at the firehouse to collect trash, drive, and keep everyone fed.

“We picked up 15 miles of roadway. We collected over 75 bags of trash,” Monica said.

Eight of the volunteers were children, the youngest of whom was just two years old.

“A great lesson for all those kids,” Monica said.

The Town of Cairo Highway Department provided garbage bags, pickers and safety vests. Highway Superintendent Art Evans also arranged for crews to come and collect the many bags filled with litter.

Lowe’s donated safety glasses and more pickers. Riedlbauer's Resort provided hand sanitizer. To help spread the word, Round Top Knit and Screening made road signs.

“Hannaford donated hotdogs, buns, and water.  Stewart's donated ice cream. The firehouse made hot chocolate. That way we were able to keep our volunteers hydrated and fed while they worked,” Monica said.

The event was deemed a huge success and a 2027 date is already set for April 24.

“What started as Rhea wanting to make a difference turned into a community event that brought many people and businesses together,” said Monica. “It shows you that all it takes is for one person―or kid―to have an idea and then anything is possible.”