North Pocono CARE was founded in 1988…
…when a pollution threat to the Lehigh River from a proposed medical waste treatment and disposal facility loomed. The group was formed to raise awareness about the facility and the impact it would have on the fragile local environment. The medical waste facility was never built.
Another challenge arose in 1992 when a school and developer proposed to discharge sewage to the Lehigh River – which has special protection status.
The actions of North Pocono CARE and others persuaded the school and developer to consider a more environmentally friendly system.
1996, North Pocono CARE (Citizens Alert Regarding the Environment) was incorporated under Pennsylvania law and in 2001 it received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. This makes it possible for the organization to receive tax deductible gifts from individuals and grants from governments, foundations, and others.
The support we needed soon followed. In 2001, North Pocono CARE received a technical assistance grant from C-SAW, the Consortium for Scientific Assistance to Watersheds. The following year, it received a Growing Greener Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. These tools have enabled the volunteers to develop additional watershed protection skills and begin a volunteer stream monitoring program.
