Lantana residents are coming together to help keep their community beautiful.
The newly formed Lantana Cares group, led by Bill Featherstone and Christy Wong, held its first clean-up on Saturday, March 5, at the Gazebo. Since then, Saturday morning clean-ups have become a regular occurrence.
“Bill was bike riding and he saw that there was trash here and there so we started talking to HOA Manager Mark Norton and wanted to help,” said Wong. “So we created this Facebook page called Lantana Cares to build awareness. We didn’t realize the impact that this was going to make or if it would stick, but it has.”
Even though the Lantana Community Association has a full-time porter who picks up trash in the common areas and the two fresh water supply districts have a part-time employee patrolling the hike and bike trails for litter, Wong felt residents should pitch in.
“Lantana Cares is dedicated to the resident-empowered beautification of our community,” said Wong.
“After Music on the Green we saw all of this trash, and as we started to clean up, the neighbors came out and thanked us because they said the trash would blow into their yards.”
The group has been picking up a wide variety of refuse in Lantana, including the kitchen sink.
“In fact we did find a kitchen sink out in a field along FM 407,” said Featherstone.
Wong signed up local businesses to sponsor the group and printed Lantana Cares T-shirts.
Sponsors include: Cassandra Homer of RE/MAX Elite, Allison Fifer of PL West Promotions, Kenneth Dakin of Mend, Gina Wilson of Hair Creations by Gina at Sola Salon, Kelli Wilson of Lantana RV & Boat Storage, Erin Lundie of Primrose School of Lantana, Wileen Carr of FurrBabies of Texas, Jonathan Balmos of Lantana Home Services and Lantana Home Security, and Kimberly Windle of The Windle Realty Team.
Now, Wong’s goal is to make an even bigger impact.
“We want to get set up as a 501c3 nonprofit but it’s complicated so we are looking for someone to help us with that.”
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