Alex Schueck is in the midst of a decision.

Standing along Constitution Drive in Walking Purchase Park, Salisbury Township, Schueck is deciding whether to step into the woods to retrieve debris she's spotted. A cleanup volunteer from Faith Church, Trexlertown, Schueck is among at least 200 volunteers who turned up to clear out piles of trash, old furniture and other debris April 26.

Schueck decides to plunge into the dry leaves and emerges moments later with an old television covered in dirt and filled with leaves, clutched in her gloved hands. Smiling, Schueck places the television along the road for pickup.

"It doesn't look like a lot but once you get it ... it is a ton," Schueck said.

Or at least two Dumpsters and 10 to 12 dump trucks full, according to Karen El-Chaar, executive director of Friends of Allentown Parks, a nonprofit group responsible for organizing the cleanup which included five parks in all.

"I personally am very, very grateful for everyone who came out," El-Chaar said by cellphone as the cleanup was entering its final two hours.

"It is a wonderful public, private cooperative venture."

Jeff and Amanda Walker, of Allentown, were among the first shift of volunteers. The couple loaded items such as the television Schueck pulled from the woods into their pickup truck and then tossed the collected junk into Dumpsters.

"I think my truck has had at least four toilets in the back of it," Jeff Walker said.

Other debris the Walkers hauled included old curtains, clothing, tires, roof shingles and blenders, Amanda Walker said.

Kerri Zerfass, who also volunteered through Faith Church, found dishes, baby food jars and other household goods in the park.

"It's like someone took their kitchen cabinets and dumped them down the hill," Zerfass said.

Dumping is a longstanding problem in parks, including Walking Purchase Park, a 570-acre park, featuring woods, river views and mountain bike trails, El-Chaar said. Among items found this year were mattresses, glass, car tires, sofas, a hot tub and a partially full car gas tank, a particularly dangerous item to find in the woods.

Matthew Zerfass and his friend Brydon Crawford found a steering wheel from a Toyota. Sophia Shuhay, Brooke Bleam, Daphne Amato, and sisters Alana, Tori and Ella Richards, all volunteers through Faith Church, found a Bible while helping to clean the park.

"I think it's really fun helping people and the environment," Shuhay said.

El-Chaar is hopeful the lesson is shared by other children who came out to help.

"It is a very good lesson," El-Chaar said.