Dr. Karen Bell

Keep Liberty Beautiful

One of the best parts of summer is spending time with family. This summer, I was blessed to have not one, but two very special visitors come to Liberty County, my mother, Yvonne Gibson, from Detroit, and my grandson, Bryce. They both reminded me that sometimes seeing Liberty County through someone else’s eyes helps you appreciate it even more.

My mother came to visit for her 79th birthday and has visited several times over the years, and every single visit begins the same way.

“It’s so quiet here,” she’ll say.

Coming from Detroit, I suppose she has a point. The traffic isn’t as busy, the pace is a little slower, and if you’re lucky, your morning commute might include spotting deer instead of brake lights.

Of course, when you come to visit me, you don’t exactly get a vacation, you get volunteered.

Mom came to work with me a couple of days, and she insisted she enjoyed herself. At least that’s what she told me! She jumped right in, helped wherever she could, and quickly learned that recycling is simply a way of life around my house. Before long, she was carrying her own little recycling bag whenever we went somewhere, making sure nothing recyclable ended up in the trash.

I have to admit, I was pretty proud of her. She also loved spending time in the garden. There’s something peaceful about planting, watering, and watching things grow. Maybe that’s one reason I enjoy Keep Liberty Beautiful’s gardening programs so much, they remind us that good things take time, patience, and a little hard work.

But I think the highlight of her visit was our boat ride to St. Catherine’s Island.

Watching dolphins swim alongside the boat and seeing the untouched sandy beach brought the biggest smile to her face. Honestly, you would have thought she’d just won the lottery.

Seeing my mom’s excitement reminded me that we sometimes take our beautiful coast for granted. Living here is a gift, and sharing it with someone you love makes you appreciate it all over again.

While my Mother was here, we picked up my grandson Bryce, who came to visit us.

Now, Bryce has learned over the years that visiting Nana usually includes a little thing I call being “voluntold.” Thankfully, he’s a great sport.

During his stay, Bryce worked alongside our Keep Liberty Beautiful Youth Summer Hires assembling “No Butts About It!” committee backpacks. These backpacks will be distributed to local hotels and restaurants to help collect cigarette butts and reduce litter throughout our community.

He also participated in three road and park cleanups, helped place Keep Liberty Beautiful decals on 50 new cigarette receptacles, assembled Adopt Liberty cleanup kits, and put together beautiful pollinator kits that will be given away during our upcoming blood drive at Ameris Bank on August 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., as we kick off the Great Southeast Pollinator Census.

Then there was the job that really impressed me. Bryce had absolutely no problem digging through our giant green recycling containers full of used printer ink cartridges. Most people would wrinkle their noses, but not Bryce. He knew those cartridges belonged in the recycling bin, not the landfill.

“Volunteering isn’t always glamorous,” I often tell people. “Sometimes it means picking up litter, sorting recyclables, or getting your hands dirty. But every small act makes a difference.”

Back at home, Bryce and I have been staying busy preparing for our next Keep Liberty Beautiful Recycle It! Fair. We’ve been cleaning out closets, sorting old electronics, gathering worn-out shoes, unused toys, stacks of paperwork for shredding, and all those things that somehow collect over the years.

It’s amazing how much clutter we all accumulate.

Our next Recycle It! Fairs will be held on Saturday, August 22, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at two convenient locations: Liberty County Community Complex, 9397 East Oglethorpe in Midway, and Walthourville City Hall, 222 Busbee Drive in Walthourville Here are the items we recycle at the fairs:

• Electronics and electronic accessories
• Cell phones and accessories
• CFLs and fluorescent light bulbs
• Used motor oil and antifreeze
• Car batteries
• Household batteries
• Printer ink and toner cartridges
• Telephone books, large sale catalogs, and books
• Household goods and clothes and shoes (gently used, please)
• Old prescription medications and over-thecounter medications (no needles or syringes) Our popular Shred It! Day will once again be available exclusively at the Walthourville location from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., with everyone needing to be in line by 12:45 p.m.

There is a Recycle It! Fair schedule in the city of Hinesville on October 24, 2026, at Bradwell Park, S Commerce St, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon during Rivers Alive.

None of these events would be possible without our incredible community partners, including the Liberty County Road Department, Liberty County Solid Waste, Liberty County Sheriff ’s Office, Fort Stewart Recycling, Savannah Shredding Company, and the cities of Midway, Hinesville, and Walthourville. Their continued support helps Keep Liberty Beautiful provide these valuable services throughout the year.

While you’re out recycling on August 22, I hope you’ll also stop by the Keep Liberty Beautiful office in Midway to participate in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Please RSVP at https://bit.ly/pollencensus, to ensure we have enough supplies and food. The Great Southeast Pollinator Census (GSEPC) is an annual citizen science initiative created by the University of Georgia, open to residents of Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Mississippi. It’s a fun family activity that helps scientists better understand pollinator populations across the Southeast.

As I watched my mom carefully separate recyclables and my grandson willingly tackle every volunteer project I handed him, I realized something important. Service is contagious.

When one person cares enough to make a difference, others often follow. Whether it’s recycling a printer cartridge, picking up litter along a roadside, planting flowers for pollinators, or simply spending time volunteering with someone you love, those little acts have a way of growing into something much bigger.

Family memories are some of life’s greatest treasures, especially when they’re made while serving others. I love that Bryce still enjoys hanging out with his Nana, has a servant’s heart, and never complains when I say, “I’ve got one more project for us.”

I hope you’ll make some memories of your own by joining us at one of Keep Liberty Beautiful’s upcoming events. And if you happen to see Bryce volunteering beside me, be sure to tell him Nana is keeping him busy for a very good reason. To find out more about Keep Liberty Beautiful’s events, call (912) 880-4888, email klcb@libertycountyga. gov, or visit our website at www.keeplibertybeautiful. org.