Dr. Karen Bell
Keep Liberty Beautiful
Keep Liberty Beautiful recently received a 2024 Governor’s Circle Award for its outstanding achievements in community beautification and environmental sustainability. The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation (KGBF) presented the award in recognition of exemplary performance in litter reduction, waste minimization, and community greening.
To qualify for the Governor’s Circle Award, affiliates must be certified and in good standing with Keep America Beautiful (KAB), the national nonprofit that oversees state and local programming. Additionally, the affiliate must be an active member of the KGBF network. Certified KAB affiliates are required to effect meaningful, positive, and lasting change by directly addressing community needs in litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, and beautification.
“We’re committed to creating clean, green, and beautiful communities across Georgia,” said Natalie Johnston-Russell, executive director of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation. “This year’s award recipients have gone above and beyond to make that vision a reality, and we’re proud to celebrate their incredible efforts.”
Keep Liberty Beautiful was recognized for its planting of 1080 trees, providing 2,340 vegetable, herbs, and flowering plants, and creating 560 container grandees distributed throughout the community with partnerships. With the support of the 68 volunteer Adopt Liberty Groups, over 72 miles are cleaned quarterly. Throughout the year, 5,705 volunteers contributed to 22,820 volunteer hours that served the community. We have recycled 49,000 pounds of electronics and household goods. Hazardous substances, light bulbs, shredded paper, and old medication were collected at KLB Quarterly Recycle It! Fairs. KLB fostered partnerships with 207 community entities, including schools, businesses, libraries, churches, youth organizations, and local government.
Keep Liberty Beautiful is a community education and volunteer action program that engages our community in litter prevention, recycling and waste reductions, community improvements and beautification, stormwater pollution, and water conservation. KLB has been an affiliate of the national organization, Keep American Beautiful, since 1983.
KLB staff, volunteers, sponsors, partners, and advisory board members make us an award-winning organization. Liberty County benefits from all the outstanding Keep Liberty Beautiful Volunteers. Our volunteers give up their time to make a difference in our community. Keep Liberty Beautiful volunteers who care for our environment and encourage others to do so. We should celebrate volunteering every day!
Volunteering can be a positive experience for the person who volunteers, the organization, and the community benefiting from the involvement. I found “Benefits of Volunteering: 10 Reasons To Volunteer!” online by Stacey Buttel and Amber Krosel, last updated on July 31, 2023. They pointed out that if you are the type of person who craves a lot of social interaction or whether you prefer as little as possible, volunteering has social, career, and personal benefits: 1. Provides you with a sense of purpose - You may be able to find your purpose through volunteering and becoming part of something greater than yourself.
2. Volunteering provides a powerful sense of community. It’s a way to feel connected to those you’re helping in the community, fostering a shared sense of purpose and belonging.
3. Volunteering is a fantastic way to meet new friends and strengthen existing connections. Whether it’s with the people you’re helping, your fellow volunteers, or even your mentors, the social benefits are immense.
4. Volunteering is a great way to increase your social skills. It provides an opportunity to talk to new people, work in diverse teams, and sharpen your communication and interpersonal skills.
5. Improves self-esteem - Volunteering may boost your self-esteem and self-confidence.
6. Teaches you valuable skills — Volunteering can help you learn new skills and build upon ones you already have, thanks to the training and hands-on experience you gain.
7. Provides job prospects — In addition to acquiring valuable skills and experience, you may also meet people volunteering who can become your mentors or at least a part of your professional social network.
8. Bringing fun into your life - Many people use volunteering to pursue their hobbies while making a difference. 9. It can help you be happier — Contributing to projects and organizations that mean something to you often feels good. These good feelings can help lessen stress, anger, or anxiety.
10. Gets you out of your comfort zone — Volunteer work may help you overcome the personal challenges of leaving your comfort zone and doing something new with people you may not know.
Volunteering with Keep Liberty Beautiful is not just about giving your time; it’s about gaining valuable experiences and contributing to a cause you believe in. As you can see, volunteering has benefits that strengthen the character development of all who participate. Keep Liberty Beautiful could not do what we do without our volunteers. To volunteer with KLB or learn more about our programs, call (912) 880-4888 or email klcb@libertycountyga.gov. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, or our website, www.keeplibertybeautiful. org.