COVID-19 Updates
May 27, 2020
Your health and safety are our number one priority at Keep Texas Beautiful.
In order to do our part to help reduce the risk of COVID-19:
- the Great American Cleanup, previously scheduled through May, has been rescheduled for June 1- Oct. 18. (See our recommendations below);
- the Don’t mess with Texas® Trash-Off, previously scheduled for April, will be canceled to ensure the safety of all volunteers;
- supply requests that have not shipped yet have been canceled.
This is an unprecedented time marked by constant change. We encourage you to regularly check the affiliate portal and our social media channels for up to the minute news. If you did receive spring cleanup supplies from us, we encourage you to consider donating them to your local health facilities.
During this time, we hope to remain a resource for you. Below you will find a digital toolkit of resources to provide guidance and support in the wake of COVID-19. We appreciate all the work our affiliates and volunteers do to help make Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation.
Please let us know if you have any questions or would just like to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The KTB team is here to help.
Keep Texas Recycling (KTR)
During this time, KTR members might see a delay in pickups. This is due to the increased demand for trucks to transport much-needed supplies. We ask for your patience in the coming weeks.
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To help you during this time, we have compiled resources you can use in the coming weeks.
AFFILIATE FORUM
Connect with other affiliates about event postponements, best practices, or just say hello!
AFFILIATE RESOURCES
Explore non-profit board resources, form templates, and KTB awards.
WEBINAR LIBRARY
Webinars and pre-recorded webinars are a great way to hear from experts and Keep Texas Beautiful program staff.
AFFILIATE TRAINING
As an affiliate, you have exclusive access to our training library. Check out additional webinars and recordings available through the affiliate portal.
AFFILIATE OFFICE HOURS
Do you have a question for the programs team? Need help with your social media? Join KTB staff for online office hours to get your questions answered. We hope to see you there! Check back for upcoming office hours.
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Updated 5/27/2020
Keep America Beautiful has announced that the Great American Cleanup (GAC) will resume, starting June 1 and run through Oct.18. Keep Texas Beautiful participates annually in this national program but we wanted to clarify how Texans can get involved.
KTB looks forward to resuming group cleanups when it is safe for large gatherings. At this time, we are promoting individual cleanups or joining members of your household only. Please follow all local, county, and state guidance. KTB reminds Texans to stay safe when choosing to go outside and clean up your communities.
When picking up litter, KTB recommends participants to do so responsibly and at their comfort level. Your cleanup group should include only members of your household. Please wear a face mask and disposable gloves, and use a litter grabber. Maintain at least 6 feet of distance from passersby.
When you are finished collecting litter, please make sure your trash bag is securely tied to protect sanitation workers. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water and hand sanitizer after collecting litter. Please dispose of your single-use face masks and disposable gloves properly and in the waste bin.
Until we can safely resume large gatherings, KTB will not provide cleanup supplies. We look forward to shipping cleanup supplies again when we can join neighbors and friends out in our communities!Visit the Great American Cleanup page to learn more about this cleanup program.
Printable Resources
To help you communicate cleanup guidance to your affiliate volunteers and community members, we have created these printable resources that include our cleanup guidance and how to safely remove disposable gloves.
- PPE Litter Cleanup Guidance - How to properly pick up littered personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Individual Cleanup Guidance - Recommendations for individuals and households to participate in cleanups.
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Stay up to date
Due to the dynamic nature of COVID-19, we suggest you stay up to date on the latest news happening in your community and throughout the nation.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
Communications
- Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CDC)
- Communicating About Coronavirus and Your Events (Nonprofit Marketing Guide)
- What to Do If You Have to Cancel Your Event Because of COVID-19 (QGiv)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Crisis Communication Best Practices for Nonprofits (Prosper Strategies)
- Crisis Planning Checklist (Armanino)
Event Management
- COVID-19: Is Your Event Covered? (Professional Convention Management Association)
- Key Planning Recommendations for Mass Gatherings in the Context of the Current COVID-19 Outbreak (WHO)
- Coronavirus: What You Need to Know About Cancelling an Event and Liability Risks (EventMB)
Small Business Resources
- COVID-19 Small Business Resource Center (ADP)
- Coronavirus Small Business Guide (US Chamber of Commerce)
- Webinar: Coronavirus And Your Message To Donors (The Nonprofit Times)
- Center for Nonprofit Studies at ACC - All Classes now FREE
- Texas Nonprofits and COVID-19: Impact and Support (Texas Nonprofits)
- Employee Rights (DOL.gov)
- Points of Light Conference for Nonprofits, FREE & Digital
Social Distancing Resources
- Austin Family & Kids' Activities in the Time of Coronavirus (Austin Chronicle)
- At Home With The Bay – Virtual Field Trips (Galveston Bay Foundation)
- Free Digital Learning Options (Texas Wildlife Association)
- Planting for Pollinators (The Nature Conservancy)
- Recycling While Social Distancing – How to Commit to Sustainability at Home (Recycling Partnership)
- TELECOMMUTING FOR A WHILE? (Take Care of Texas)
- Water University Virtual Planting Classes (Texas A&M Agrilife)
- Texan By Nature Partner Resouces
- Emergency Resource Exchange
Recycling Resources
- For more information on how COVID-19 is affecting the recycling industry and tips on keeping your staff safe, please visit the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) Resource Page. (STAR)
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You may be wondering how you can continue to improve your community, or how you can continue to engage community members. The KTB team compiled a list of ways you can continue to improve your home and area. Feel free to practice some of these ideas in your own home, or share them with your audiences! Please note that out of an abundance of caution, all cleanups have been postponed until the fall of 2020. This includes individual cleanups, too.
- Recycle properly
- Wipes are not recyclable, the container is
- Hand sanitizer bottles are only recyclable when washed out
- Share other relevant recycling tips on social media!
- Start composting
- Plant a tree/plants
- Read a book about the environment
- Build a Free Little Library
- Learn about native and adaptive plants and trees
- Finally, get around to installing that rain barrel!
- Paint your front door/porch
- Make a wreath from things around the house and hang it on your front door
- Rearrange your furniture
- Repurpose a room in your house
- Take care of landscaping projects
- Trim your trees, pull weeds, remove dead shrubs/trees,
- Lay mulch / put down topsoil
- Fix that leaky faucet (or whatever else has needed tending to)
- Re-organize your closet
- Take care of spring cleaning!
- Wipe down your baseboards
- Wash windows
- Clean your oven
- Teach your kids how to wash the car
- Borrow a pressure washer from a neighbor and pressure wash your deck, driveway, home, etc.
- Clean out your pantry and donate items that you don’t need/won’t use
- Defrost your freezer
- Refinish an old piece of furniture
- Clean out your fireplace
- Change your air filter
- Prevent food waste
- Store leftovers
- Only buy the things you need
- Hang those pictures you’ve been putting off
- Recycle properly
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The CARES Act Loan Applications are now open. One of the most important resources available to nonprofits is the Paycheck Protection Program, which allows borrowers to secure funds to pay staff and operating costs and secure full loan forgiveness under certain circumstances.
The application is open from April 3 through June 30, 2020. Borrowers are advised to apply as soon as possible given the set amount of funding for this program.
Nonprofits may be able to apply through your local bank if it's an approved lender.
We recommend that you reach out to your legal and financial advisors for individual advice, beginning with your banking institution.
Resources
Loans Available for Nonprofits in the CARES Act
(National Council of Nonprofits)
Coronavirus Emergency Loans: Small Business Guide and Checklist
(U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
CARES Act: How to apply for Nonprofit Relief Funds
(Independent Sector)
Paycheck Protection Program Fact Sheet
(U.S. Department of the Treasury)
Sample Loan Application
(U.S. Department of the Treasury) -
Resources
- Proper Disposal of PPE During COVID-19 (KTB Blog)
- Don't Recycle PPE (EPA Video)
Printable Resources
To help you communicate cleanup guidance to your affiliate volunteers and community members, we have created these printable resources that include our cleanup guidance and how to safely remove disposable gloves.
- PPE Litter Cleanup Guidance - How to properly pick up littered personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Individual Cleanup Guidance - Recommendations for individuals and households to participate in cleanups.
