FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — A Cleanup Day is planned for Saturday, May 26, at the site on Waterworks Road where a Franklin woman was found murdered last October.

The event, which is being held in memory of 25-year-old Tausha Baker, was organized by Caitlin Lawrence, Baker’s sister. Lawrence visited the Waterworks Road site where Baker’s body was discovered last fall and decided she wanted to see it cleaned up in her sister’s memory.

The site has often been used as an unlawful dump site in the past, and Lawrence noted there is a lot of trash ranging from tires and box springs to animal carcasses and bones scattered all over the area.

Lawrence also noted that the site is on City of Franklin property and the city has agreed to handle the disposal of tires from the site.

“There are a lot of tires back there, I’d guess maybe 50. The city is going to handle the disposal of most of them, but we want to upcycle a few of them, maybe use them in part of the garden,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence visited the site again this week and was shocked to see how much growth had developed since her last visit, which made her focus on how much work she’d like to get done.

“We need some men to help out. I have a lot of women signed up, but very few men. Not that I’m saying women can’t handle it, but it would be really nice to see some men out there, too. Right now I have 45 people confirmed to be attending, and another 70 who have indicated that they are interested, but haven’t confirmed they’re coming,” Lawrence said.

Once the site is cleaned up, Lawrence would like to turn the area into a kind of a garden area, with flowers and possibly seating in the future.

“We used to go on nature hikes all of the time when we lived out in the country. I’d like to make this area nice, somewhere we can grieve,” she said.

Lawrence also has plans to start a nonprofit organization in her sister’s memory.

“I’d like people to see that there’s more to Tausha’s story than a drug deal gone bad. I’d like to do something, in her name, to bring awareness to domestic violence, mental health issues, and drug abuse. I’d also like to help support the women’s shelter. There’s so much they need, and I’d like to get them more continuous support,” she said.

The cleanup event is scheduled to run from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Volunteers are invited to meet outside of the Knights of Columbus hall at 1436 Liberty Street in Franklin to be shuttled to and from the cleanup site. Lawrence will be providing safety vests, gloves, trash bags and packed lunches.

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