Photo Provided Amy Dobkin, communications manager for Southwestern Energy, presents a $25,000 check to Monroe County commissioners and the United Way of Guernsey, Noble and Monroe Counties during Monday’s meeting. Also pictured, from left, are United Way Executive Director Marynell Townsend, Commissioner Bill Bolon, Dobkin, Commissioner Diane Burkhart and Commissioner Mick Schumacher.

WOODSFIELD — Southwestern Energy recently donated $25,000 to the United Way of Guernsey, Noble and Monroe Counties to support local food banks in the area.

Amy Dobkin, communications manager for Southwestern, presented the check to local officials Monday during the Monroe County Board of Commissioners’ meeting. The funding will go to the United Way of Guernsey, Noble and Monroe Counties, which will distribute the funds to organizations in the area. The United Way is a nonprofit that helps to fight hunger and homelesseness, according to its website.

Commission Mick Schumacher said the funding will aid hunger initiatives and food pantries in the county. He said the local United Way is in the process of setting up a grant program where local food banks can apply for the funds. The money will then be distributed to the local initiatives.

Schumacher said the commissioners appreciate the contribution that will help support those in need.

“We’re very pleased to be able to accept the donation and meet her (Dobkin). We’re hoping to strengthen the relationships with oil and gas in the county,” he added.

In other matters, Schumacher said this is the final week for the county’s litter cleanup. He said a total amount of bags collected has not yet been determined. However, he said he has collected and filled more than two dozen bags of litter this month, while hundreds more have been collected by crews with the Ohio Department of Transportation along Ohio 7.

Schumacher said litter along the roads remains an issue in the county. He believes much of the litter is from unsecured debris and garbage falling off of trucks.

A few of the local schools participated last week in support of Earth Day including River Elementary School students, who picked up 18 bags of trash around the campus. Schumacher said he and fellow commissioners, Diane Burkhart and Bill Bolon, will be delivering some ice cream treats for students sometime this week in recognition of their efforts.

Any resident participating in the cleanup may use the dumpsters located at Buchanan Presbyterian Church in Lewisville, the Monroe County Fairgrounds in Woodsfield, and the Hannibal Locks and Dam in Hannibal to dispose of the filled garbage bags.