Dr. Karen Bell

Keep Liberty Beautiful

I had a scare last week with my health that made me sit up and realize that taking care of yourself is important so that you can take care of others and your community.

The Earth cannot take care of itself, so we need to be here for it. Health problems can affect how you function. When you make your physical body and mental health a priority, you can contribute to making the Earth a better place.

This Friday, April 21, and the weekend, Liberty County will have the opportunity to join millions of people around the world in celebrating the Earth for International Earth Day. So how do we celebrate and learn at the same time? 

Join us for Liberty County Earth Day! We will have lots of ways to have fun, play games, and be creative with crafts. We have some great entertainment, and it is free! But secretly, there is also a whole lot of education going on that you will not recognize as learning. This event has taken months of planning and a lot of coordinating with many community partners, and I think it will be something you do not want to miss, no matter your age! Earth Day is for our community and by our community. Over 40 organizations, businesses, agencies and churches partner with Keep Liberty Beautiful and hundreds of volunteers to make this event a success. We could not do this event without that kind of commitment from our community, so to all of those volunteers and partners, thank you so much. 

KLB is so excited that you joined with us to share information about water conservation, stormwater pollution, litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction and community improvement. Those topics may not sound that interesting to some of you, but when you learn about the problems that litter and stormwater create by actually journeying through a storm drain, that knowledge becomes fun. Fishing for healthy, not polluted, fish makes education a little more interesting, too.

At the event, you can learn about water conservation and the difference that recycling can make by going through an Earth Friendly Obstacle Course, including toilets and recycling bins, tires and a “trap river.” There are loads of different activities for kids of all ages. And for you parents and young-at-heart adults that attend, there are plenty of things that you will enjoy, too, including a variety of garden containers, like our backyard veggie garden possibilities, fairy gardens and herb gardens.

We also will be giving away trees that you can reserve before you come to Earth Day. There are loads of displays on ideas that you can use at home for waste-free lunches and composting. There are so many cute and entertaining components of this event. I wish I could share them all here, but you will just have to join us on Friday and see for yourself!

Taking care of the Earth should be a joyous task for all of us. It is our home, after all, and we are its stewards. Plan now to join us this Friday, April 21, for the upcoming 17th Annual Earth Day Celebration. Our celebration happens at Bryant Commons in Hinesville from 3–6 p.m.

If you would like to learn more, contact us at Keep Liberty Beautiful at klcb@libertycountyga.com or (912) 880-4888. All booth spaces are now committed, but volunteers are always appreciated at this event.

Also this weekend, you can participate in one of four Great American Cleanups on Saturday, April 22. All organizations, churches, businesses and civic clubs are encouraged to participate in the Flemington, Gum Branch, Walthourville and Riceboro cleanups from 9 a.m.–noon.

Remember, you must take care of yourself so you can take care of the Earth!