HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 04 Friends of Fall Creek Recognition
June 5, 2017
Springfield Upbeat
Friends of Fall Creek Watershed Recognition
(From the Register Guard Article – April 5, 2017)
Jennifer Moss, a Glenwood resident, was dismayed when one of her favorite places, the
mossy green Fall Creek Recreation Area, was trashed with mounds of garbage, human
waste, broken glass, junked cars and even a broken-down trailer. For Ms. Moss, who had
seen Fall Creek as a special refuge since she was old enough to drive, it was heart-breaking.
She thought of all the memories families had made there – weddings, picnics and other
events – and compared it to the garbage dump the area had become, thanks to illegal
dumping and camping.
While many people would have stopped at that, Ms. Moss did something. She took to social
media to recruit people for a two-day clean-up mission. She ended up with about 50
volunteers, who hauled out more than four tons of garbage and 440 pounds of recyclable
metals.
Encouraged by the success of the event, Ms. Moss and the other volunteers formed the
Friends of Fall Creek Watershed, which is partnering with SOLV, the nonprofit
organization that organizes beach cleanups. The Fall Creek group is now raising money to
incorporate.
Ms. Moss had a choice when she faced the despoliation of her beloved Fall Creek area; to
curse the darkness and walk away, or to light a candle. She chose to light a candle. The
world would be a better place if more people followed her example.