April 22 is the date for the annual international celebration for Earth Day — and last Monday, we did celebrate.
When we consider what kind of impact our Earth Day celebration should have, we look for ways to remind families and individuals to consider what each of us can do to make a difference. The neat thing about this event is that it grows every year — not just in the attendance of more than 1,000 people, but in the veritable army of people who make our celebration happen.
At times, people mistakenly say that this event happens because of me or because of Keep Liberty Beautiful, but that is simply not true. This growing army of local citizens and organizations and businesses and public entities make Earth Day happen, and we should thank all of them.
First, here is a word for our sponsors. We would not have Earth Day without them: Liberty County Solid Waste; Georgia Power Company; Coastal Electric Cooperative; Canoochee EMC; the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau; the cities of Hinesville, Flemington, Allenhurst and Walthourville; and Long County.
Then we have groups and individuals who help with donated equipment, space, supplies, door prizes and more. We particularly need to express our thanks to: Clenton Wells and Liberty County Public Works, the YMCA, Jimmy Shanken, Vaden Nissan of Hinesville, Farmers Natural Foods, Balfour Beatty/ Marne Point, Ace Hardware, Southern Waste Services, CA Sittle, GeoVista Credit Union, Walmart, VIP Office Furniture and Supply, and Liberty County 4-H.
And then there are the more than 60 organizations, businesses and churches who host Earth Day games, crafts, exhibits and activities. These groups are the actual backbone of this large event, which is operated on a shoestring budget. Without all of these groups willing to bring these activities to life, Earth Day would be pretty pitiful.
I wish I had space to name each of the nearly 200 volunteers who work the event for us, but here are the names of the groups who do such a fantastic job: Department of Natural Resources Adopt a Stream, Farmers Natural Foods, Jaime Rearley with the Liberty County Board of Education, Liberty County 4-H, Ardyss K. Bell Relay for Life team, Midway First Baptist Church Relay for Life ream, Rogue Beauty, The Edge at Fort Stewart, Yates-Astro Pesticide, Imprint Warehouse, Balfour Beatty/Marne Point, United Military Care, Coastal DNR, Vaden Nissan of Hinesville, Hinesville Water Department, Hinesville Department of Inspections/GIS, Hinesville Finance Department;
A-Plus Educational Services, the Department of Family and Children Services, Atlantic Area CASA, Hinesville Community Development Department, ARC Red Club, the Midway Middle School Builders Club, The Heritage Bank, Georgia Power Company, T R Long Engineering, Liberty County, Delta Gems, Georgia Forestry Commission, Liberty County Solid Waste Authority, John Henderson, Lindsay Swida, Hinesville Public Works/CH2MHill, Goodwill Industries/SNF Holding Company, Low Country Diaper Association, Liberty County EMA, Live Oak Library, Bradwell Institute Beta Club, LaQuinta Inn and Suites, Hinesville Area Arts Council, Linda DeLoach, Charlene Holmes, Joanna Skeen, Sari Whitehurst, Jonathan Golden, Donald Lovette, Ashley Cuevas, Charmette Reed, Johnny Davis, Danielle Watson, Brenda Hearn, Junior Kincade, Jennifer Woodard, Laura Troutman, Mark Barnette, Susan Dasher, Bob Sprinkel, Chi Pi Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta, Liberty County Chamber and CVB, the DA/Child Support Services Office, Rotary Club of Hinesville, the Keep Liberty Beautiful advisory board, 3rd Class Citizens, the 4-H environmental display finalists — Seraphina Morrison, Max Morrison, and Courtney Kuelling — and the Liberty County schools’ sixth-grade art classes.
Finally, there would be no Earth Day Celebration without the KLB advisory board members and, particularly, the planning committee, which has worked for months on this event: co-Chairs Leah Poole and Terri Willett, Krystal Hart, Kasey Bozeman, Evanne Floyd, Charmette Reed and Willie Cato. These people make up the kind of army that can make anything happen!
Thanks to all of you and to all of the families who were able to attend!

Upcoming KLB events
May 11 — Recycle It! fair and prescription take-back
May 30 — KLB Volunteer Appreciation