Around the world, people are stepping forward and getting involved to preserve and protect the environment. International, national and regional organizations alike, are seeing their rolls of volunteers expand, as people are reaching out to make a positive difference in their community and their world.
This new Ecology Today series, Step Forward, will explore environmental volunteerism across the globe, featuring initiatives and events by organizations large and small, relaying their stories and yours. We hope to stimulate and facilitate environmental volunteerism by letting you know about the myriad of opportunities available in your neighborhood and beyond.
Do Something Beautiful
“Do Something Beautiful” – the tag line of Keep America Beautiful – says it all. The mission of KAB, the nation’s largest community improvement program, is to engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. In pursuit of that goal, in 1999 KAB created the Great American Cleanup, which takes place annually from March 1 through May 31. This inspiring, nationwide event involves an estimated 3 million volunteers and attendees, who in 2008, donated more than 6.7 million hours, doing ’something beautiful’ to more than 17,000 communities during more than 30,000 events in all 50 states and beyond.
Activities of the Great American Cleanup include beautifying and cleaning up parks, recreation areas, seashores and waterways, collecting recyclables, planting trees and flowers, and conducting numerous educational programs and litter-free events.
In 2008, Great American Cleanup enjoyed impressive results! Their nationwide team of volunteers collected 86 million pounds of debris and litter; planted 107,000 trees and 48,000 gardens, xeriscapes and green spaces; cleaned 144,000 miles or roads, streets and highways; and diverted more than 189 million plastic (PET) bottles and 1.4 million scrap tires from the waste stream.
2009’s Great American Cleanup will launch March 3rd, with a national event in Waveland, Mississippi, to help restore a hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast town. Additional national events include New York City on Earth Day and Nashville on May 14th. Local groups will mobilize millions of volunteers, of all ages and walks of life, nationwide. We will follow up and share this year’s Great American Cleanup success stories with you.
Visit the Keep America Beautiful – Great American Cleanup – web site to find a Great American Clean Up event near you, or to learn how to organize your own event.
– B. Crowfoot & J. Engelsiepen
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