VALDOSTA — For nearly 10 years, Aaron Strickland and Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful have led thousands of volunteers in cleaning up Lowndes County sites as part of the national Great American Cleanup.

This weekend, the annual campaign cleanup returns, and Strickland is coordinating volunteers in not just one site but five locations throughout Lowndes County.

“In addition to our neighborhood cleanup sites within the city of Valdosta and Lowndes County, we also have city of Hahira and Lake Park projects identified and selected for the cleanup,” says Strickland, Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful executive director. “In response to the recent flooding, we have decided to add the Valdosta YMCA as a fifth project site.”

To accomplish this feat, 175 volunteers are needed. Volunteers are asked to contact Strickland to be assigned to a cleanup location.

The Great American Cleanup is a national grassroots-beautification, litter-prevention and community-improvement program and is the signature event of Keep America Beautiful, Strickland said.

Local volunteers have made a difference with KLVB’s involvement in the Great American Cleanup and the annual fall Rivers Alive cleanup for several years.

In addition to the selected sites, city and county Adopt-A-Road groups plan to clean their zones. Lowndes County recycling centers will distribute car litter bags during the weekend.

These cleanups are necessary, and more volunteers were needed as of Wednesday. As Strickland has said for many years, “Litter will not pick itself up.”

CLEANUP

Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup. Volunteers needed.

When: 8:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday.

More information and site assignments:

Call KLVB, (229) 671-2499 or 671-2497.

NOTE: Volunteers should call today or Friday for site assignments.