Just recently a week ago, the Phelan community started up Project Cleanin’ Phelan, where people from all over Phelan are invited to help clean up and beautify the community. Phelan is a desert community in the southern part of California with around 14,000 residents. Currently there are 6 active members who meet at a certain arranged times to start cleaning (usually once a month). A Phelan resident named Susan VanAllen started up this project. “I was motivated when I saw all the trees and plants covered in trash and I was disappointed not one person was doing anything about it.” On Saturday at 10 AM, the members met up at Phelan Elementary school and started cleaning up trash along Phelan Rd. for one hour.
On Saturday, January 28th, 2012, 6 members filled a total of 11 bags from Phelan Elementary school to the Veterans Building. The members consisted of adults, senior citizens, and even middle school students. They worked very had in order to beautify their community. “I feel very relieved that there is such a project going on this community,” says Tarra Phillips, a resident of Phelan for over 10 years.
“It was very tiring, but I still thought it was worth all the hard work,” says the daughter of the VanAllens. Project Cleanin’ Phelan is still not a widely-known project in Phelan, but it definitely is growing. “Our goal is to make more people involved and so Phelan will become a beautiful place for residents to live in,” the members say.
In the past 3 years, Phelan residents have complained that their community was getting dirtier every year and they need to do something about it. Phelan residents are very content about this project. “If they keep this up, Phelan will really become a better place to live in,” says Lisa Garcia. “I have also noticed the amount of trash increasing in Phelan and it disgusted me to see it, but I am very glad that such a project noticed it too and is actually doing something about it,” says Susan.
Overall, Project Cleanin’ Phelan is a success and “hopefully more people gets involved in this,” says Susan VanAllen. Van Allen’s goal is to encourage as many people in the community as possible to take time to come out and show their love for Phelan. Many Phelan residents think positively about this project.
For more information about this project, contact Susan VanAllen at (760) 646-1488 or email suesdanes@yahoo.com. Cleanin’ Phelan can also be found at their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Cleanin-Phelan/337579059592262?ref=ts.
