Water is necessary for us to live and it is up to us to take care of the water.  Sounds simple, but only three percent of Earth’s entire supply of water is fresh water. People believe that businesses are the major contributors of water pollution.  The truth is they are only one source of water pollution. Other sources include sewage treatment plants, households, streets and footpaths. Individuals contaminate water by littering (including cigarette butts), pouring oils down the sink, and using fertilizers and other chemicals on their gardens. These pollutants are then washed or blown into stormwater drains and local waterways.

Litter is a major contributor to visual pollution of waterways.  Most litter reaches the waterways through the stormwater system, washing from footpaths and streets into stormwater drains. That is one reason we participate in cleanup activities like “Rivers Alive.”  Rivers Alive, from August to October, is a statewide effort to preserve and protect our waterways in Georgia. This effort each year is also part of the international efforts of The Ocean Conservancy.  

Here in Liberty County we had our first Rivers Alive cleanup by one of the Adopt Liberty groups, Young Women of Virtue.  The main day for our local Rivers Alive in Liberty County is Saturday, Oct. 26. We also hold our main cleanup day on the national Make a Difference Day and are a registered activity for this major volunteer drive around our country.  USA WEEKEND Magazine created “Make a Difference Day,” an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. Make a Difference Day is over 20 years strong and is the nation’s largest day of community service. Make a Difference Day is a USA TODAY initiative, backed by the Gannett Company, Points of Light Foundation and Newman’s Own. It is a “celebration of neighbors helping neighbors.”  Millions of volunteers from across the nation will unite in a common mission to improve the lives of others on this special day. The projects around the country for Make a Difference Day show that anyone – regardless of age, location or resources – can accomplish amazing things when they take on the problems they see in their community.

Make a Difference Day is advertised as a “celebration of neighbors helping neighbors.”  Volunteering with Rivers Alive is one way to make a powerful statement about protecting our waterways. Making good choices every day about how we handle litter is another important way to prevent water pollution.  Join us as we stop litter in its tracks.  

We will have official Rivers Alive T-shirts for at least the first 500 volunteers registered, so contact us now! We also provide all the cleanup supplies for our hardworking volunteers.  SNF Holding Company, our sponsor locally, provides an appreciation cookout for volunteers at Riceboro Creek Park on Highway 17 South after the cleanups. So, plan to make a difference and contact us at Keep Liberty Beautiful. You can call 912-880-4888 or email klcb@libertycountyga.com by Wednesday, Oct. 23.  

If Oct. 26 does not work for you and your group, we can schedule a cleanup date and location that does.  

We invite you to join us in service Oct. 26 for Make a Difference Day 2019 at Rivers Alive.