Members of the Hatter rock band will be dropping their microphones and putting down their guitars in order to pick up a new jam.

This gig involves cleaning a stretch of Route 209 just outside of Tamaqua, and band members are hoping volunteers will arrive for “Cleaning Up the Hatter Highway” event May 21 and stay for the party afterward.

Hatter is one of the newest participants in PennDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program.

“My wife, Alyssa, and I came up with the idea while driving past another Adopt-A-Highway sign,” explained vocalist and guitarist George Parr, of Tamaqua. “We thought it would be a nice thing to do in our own town.”

It wasn’t long before they pitched the idea it to bassist Tony Kalbarczyk, drummer TJ Walker and guitarist Austin Johnson.

“Everyone agreed that it would be a great way to give back to the community,” Parr explained.

The Parrs contacted PennDOT and filled out paperwork. The band requested a section in Tamaqua and was granted a 2-mile stretch of Route 209 that starts at the borough’s west end.

“With the exception of a few parts of town, Tamaqua is a pretty clean place, but like any highway, there is a moderate amount of litter. We went with the highway program, because there are already groups of people doing cleanups in other sections of town, like the river behind Boyer’s,” Parr said.

The adoption was finalized in November and a sign was recently placed.

Hatter is organizing a community cleanup starting at noon May 21. Volunteers should meet at the sign across from Hope’s Collision.

The B.P.O. Elks Tamaqua Lodge 592 will provide soft drinks and water from noon to 2 p.m.

When the cleanup is done, Hatter will take the stage at 3 p.m. for a one-hour “thank you” concert at the Elks, 201 W. Broad St.

Anyone interested is asked to RSVP to the event found on the band’s Facebook page. More information is also at www.hattertheband.com.

“It’s always a good feeling to give. When you can give back to your hometown it makes it even more special,” Parr said.

According to PennDOT spokesman Ronald Young, the highway department spends about $13 million cleaning up roadside litter every year.

“The department greatly appreciates the Adopt-A-Highway volunteers who choose to pick up additional litter along state roads,” Young said.

The most recent data notes that 4,120 volunteers have adopted 9,192 miles of highways.

“Adopt-A-Highway volunteers beautify Pennsylvania roadsides 2 miles at a time,” Young said.

An individual, civic or volunteer group can sign a two-year agreement to pick up litter at least twice a year. In return, PennDOT posts recognition signs along the adopted roadway to credit the volunteers.

PennDOT provides safety vests, trash bags, work gloves, “Litter Crew Ahead” signs, and notifies the Pennsylvania State Police of all scheduled events.

After trash is collected and bagged, PennDOT crews clear it from the roadside.

More information is available at https://adoptahighway.penndot.gov/.