I promised myself that I will eat better and exercise more this year, but I refuse to call it a New Year’s Resolution. So, in 2021, I am trying to figure out how to do things much better and be healthier, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second week of the year, and I wonder how many people made a new year’s resolution and have broken them already. While you are making a change or New Year’s Resolutions, I would like to share a couple of options to consider adding to your list.
How about committing to volunteering or volunteering more this year. According to several research studies, volunteers are happier and feel more fulfilled. They have lower blood pressure, have fewer mental health issues, and live longer on average! Those are things we can all benefit from! There are many opportunities for volunteering in our community. I urge you to find one of those opportunities and sign up because you will make a difference in your life and in our community.
Keep Liberty Beautiful is a community education, volunteer action program that is all about taking care of our environment. These are the issues that guide what we do: litter cleanup and eradication, recycling and waste reduction, water quality and water conservation, and growing a better world and a better community. If you are interested in any of these areas, here are some ways you can volunteer with KLB in the next few months:
In February, we are all about trees! Georgia Arbor Day occurs each year on the third Friday in February. Why are trees important? A healthy tree canopy in a community provides more than beauty. It also gives us humans’ oxygen and shade. It helps cool our community in the summer heat. It prevents erosion. It provides a habitat for birds and wildlife. We celebrate Arbor Day and Trees each year by having a tree giveaway to encourage more people to plant and enjoy trees. We will be giving away trees on Arbor Day Weekend on February 19, 2021, and February 20, 2021. We need volunteers to help prepare for these events; the duties would include tagging trees, organizing trees, and moving trees to pick up locations. If you would like to reserve a tree for planting, we will have several types of trees on hand like dogwoods, crape myrtles, magnolias, and oaks. Trees are always very limited! We want to encourage any civic or youth groups, schools, churches, businesses, and municipalities, as well as individuals, to reserve a tree to plant. We will start taking reservations on February 1, 2021.
In February, we also hold quarterly Recycle It! Fairs to help reduce the amount of waste going into landfills and to provide items for recycling to help conserve natural resources. These Fairs are held in three locations each quarter. We accept a host of things, from electronics to certain types of light bulbs, batteries, and other hazardous household goods. We also hold Shred Days so that local citizens can safely and securely dispose of old financial, medical, household, and business records. Cleaning out and organizing your home or business storage is another great way to protect our environment and help your own mental health. These fairs will be held on February 20, 2021, and volunteers are always helpful in preparing for and staffing these locations.
In March through June, KLB partners with local cities and neighborhoods to hold our annual Great American Cleanup events with thousands of other communities internationally. Volunteers are the heart of these events to ensure that we citizens share responsibility in keeping our local community healthy and thriving. We welcome volunteers for these events. Over 600 local citizens made a difference in these efforts last year, even with COVID-19. There is plenty of room for you, too.
In April, we celebrate the Earth. It is our home, after all. If we do not keep it clean and our water resources healthy, who will? We hold our largest annual community education event in conjunction with Earth Day each year. We have a shoestring budget, so sponsors and hundreds of volunteers make this event possible through months of planning and preparations. Believe me, we welcome volunteers for this community-wide event.
This spring, we will also be working on some beautification GROW projects with schools and organizations, as well as some potential educational workshops. Are you looking for a project for your church, business, social group, or neighborhood? KLB has project ideas that provide an opportunity for young and older citizens to get their hands dirty and make the world pretty, too. We have also focused on edible gardens in the last few years, so there are many benefits health-wise and community-wise to get involved.
I hope I have stirred your interest in volunteering with KLB! Start off 2021 right by finding your way to make the world a better place!
For more information on our volunteer opportunities, contact Keep Liberty Beautiful at klcb@libertycountyga.com or check our information on www.keeplibertybeautiful.org. Happy Volunteering in 2021!