Pilgrim’s volunteers clean up Russellville

In an effort to give back to the community and increase the ongoing beautification efforts in the city of Russellville, Pilgrim’s used the week of April 9 to donate time and effort to community service projects of various kinds.

Company officials collaborated with Mayor David Grissom to coordinate the project.

“We knew we had an install coming, so we reached out to David with this idea,” explained plant manager Zach Cummings. The plant is installing new equipment throughout the week, and they gave their employees the option to volunteer to help out in the community.

When Grissom arrived at the plant Monday, he said he was shocked by the number of volunteers that were present. Originally about 80 employees had signed up, but more than 130 showed up that day to volunteer.

Throughout the week volunteers completed various projects like washing the Russellville police cars, cleaning street signs that were so dirty they couldn’t be read, picking up trash and power washing sidewalks and bleachers at the community parks.

Shannon Wilson with the Russellville Street Department was in charge of organizing the Russellville cleanup, which included transporting the volunteers to the different work sites.

“He did an excellent job organizing this,” Grissom said.

Volunteers also worked at the schools, the RCS Board of Education central office, city hall, the fire department and local cemeteries.