Saturday, Keep Liberty Beautiful will partner with the city of Hinesville for the last citywide cleanup in Liberty County for this spring.
We appreciate all of the cities in our county for making these annual cleanups a priority. Litter reflects poorly on all of us, so we do appreciate our elected officials for leading the effort to clean up our community.
Hinesville’s cleanup will kickoff in Bradwell Park downtown at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers should register ahead so we have adequate supplies as well as plenty of food at the after-cleanup picnic provided by the city. Registered volunteers will receive Great American Cleanup T-shirts.
It is simple to participate in a cleanup. No special skills are required and we provide all of the supplies, as well as water. When you arrive as an individual or in a group, we provide the supplies — from reachers to safety vests. We then discuss safety because your safety is more important than any trash on the ground. We then assign areas. If you have a preference — like your neighborhood or the street your church is on — that is great. We then photograph each group and volunteers to post on Facebook and other venues.
Groups then go to their assigned areas, cleanup for a couple of hours and then return to turn in supplies, get T-shirts and enjoy the picnic.
More than 600 volunteers have cleaned up areas of Hinesville and throughout the county already, but more is needed. And if Saturday is not a good day for you, we can arrange to provide supplies, etc., on another day. We have a variety of smaller group and area cleanups scheduled through the end of May.
Periodically, I have people ask why cleanups matter when many cities and the county have staff or details for litter pick up. I value the efforts our governments do to keep areas looking good, but if you have never noticed how much trash does accumulate on our streets, then I invite you to participate in this cleanup. Volunteer cleanups and groups, like our 50-plus Adopt Liberty groups, help to supplement the work our city and county staffs.
Volunteer cleanups also remind people who might litter that many of their fellow citizens do not want their litter on our ground.
I am a big believer in citizens being involved in making a difference where we live. There are many ways and many programs that people can be involved with to do that. If you are one of the enlightened ones, then you know that great communities do not just happen. Concerned citizens get involved and make communities great.
To register for Saturday’s cleanup or participate on another day, contact us at Keep Liberty Beautiful at klcb@coastalnow.net or 880-4888.
Swida is director of Keep Liberty Beautiful.