VALDOSTA — Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful, the City of Valdosta and Lowndes County are joining forces with several local organizations and volunteers for a Make A Difference Day cleanup.

The cleanup will take place from 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Created by USA Weekend magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October.

The 2009 Make A Difference Day event in Valdosta and Lowndes County will consist of neighborhood cleanups at one site in both the city and county. H. Aaron Strickland, Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful executive director, is asking that volunteers continue the policy of calling in to sign up as they have in the past, so they can be assigned to the site where they are needed most.

On Oct. 3, some 188 volunteers gathered to help clean sites at the Little River off St. Augustine Road, One Mile Branch on the Valdosta State University main campus, Two Mile Branch on VSU’s north campus, and the Alapaha River off Old State Road as part of Georgia’s 18th Annual River Cleanup, Strickland said.

Volunteers at the Oct. 3 event pulled one ton of debris from the waterways, including hundreds of bags of trash, furniture, three tires, small appliances, televisions, shingles, and a wheelbarrow, he said.

A total of 26 clubs and organizations, including the Valdosta High Naval Junior ROTC, Lowndes High Environmental Club, Brooks County High School, and several fraternities, sororities, and organizations from VSU participated in Rivers Alive to help keep “our most valuable resource clean and beautiful,” he added.

In 2008, Strickland said approximately 129 volunteers helped rid neighborhoods in the city and county of over 20 tons of junk, litter and debris.

“Remember, litter will never pick itself up,” he said.

There will also be an Electronics Recycling Event on Saturday, Nov. 7.

“Make A Difference Day is about trying to improve our communities and quality of life, raising awareness, building community, educating, forging relationships, and just about doing the right thing,” Strickland said.

Those wishing to volunteer can call H. Aaron Strickland at (229) 671-2497 or (229) 671-2499. To learn more about Make A Difference Day, visit www.usaweekend.com/diffday.