The next time you’re driving down Avenue K in east Plano, you can thank Plano West Rotary Club (PWRC) for the clean stretch of roadside you’re traveling on.
 
    On May 14 PWRC members Glen and Michelle Thornton were joined by two community volunteers to spend a couple hours picking up litter alongside Avenue K between Spring Creek Parkway and Parker Road. Seven bags of debris are now properly disposed of instead of harming the environment.
     For several years PWRC has cleaned this roadside area bimonthly as part of the city’s Adopt-a-Highway project, and Glen has led the charge each time. A blue sign proudly bearing the club’s name is visible for all to see – a sign of PWRC’s commitment to the Plano community.
     Protecting the environment is an area of focus for Rotary. PWRC’s commitment to bringing volunteers every other month means that less taxpayer dollars are spent keeping the area next to the road clean and free of trash. This creates a safer roadway for drivers, and also inspires club members to be prouder of their city.
     An additional bonus is that PWRC regularly has youth volunteers join in this project. Students learn firsthand the reward of putting in hard work as a service to their community. Some students are also able to earn volunteering hours for school programs. This truly demonstrates Rotary’s motto of “service above self” in action.