It's time to do a little spring cleaning around Greenwood and Leflore County.
The Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce's Community Pride Committee is searching for volunteers to clean streets, neighborhoods and parks in its semiannual "Clean Up, Green Up" campaign April 13.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. until noon.
From civic clubs to businesses to churches and individuals, the Community Pride committee wants everyone to participate, said Carolyn McAdams, committee chairman.
"We want everyone of all ages to take part in this annual event, which focuses on cleaning up our wonderful community," she said.
"Keeping our community clean is an outward expression of pride we all share for the area where we live. Please make a special effort on April 13 to pick up trash in our city."
Once again, the Community Pride Committee would like to see the entrances to the city cleaned, McAdams said. These areas are the first people see when they come into town, and they leave an impression of what type of people live in the community, she said. "We hope some groups will volunteer to focus on these areas in particular."
One of the goals of this year's campaign is to educate children about the importance of not littering. "We want to teach them to keep their neighborhoods clean and have pride in their town," McAdams said.
The Community Pride Committee is working with the Mississippi Department of Transportation to make that happen. Brandy Copeland will be visiting area schools and conducting presentations on littering. She will be visiting Bankston and Davis Elementary schools in the Greenwood Public School System and at Amanda Elzy Elementary and Claudine Brown Elementary schools in the Leflore County School System on April 4 to talk to children in kindergarten through third grade, McAdams said.
"We want to get them conscious of the effects littering can have at an early age," she said.
McAdams also hopes these presentations will encourage children to get involved in the program on April 13.
Gloves and bags will be provided by the chamber. Participants may pick them up prior to the event or on the morning of the event beginning at 8 a.m.
Also, garbage trailers will be placed throughout the city to make it easier for people to dump the trash when they have finished. They will be at the Leflore County Civic Center, the Chamber of Commerce, the old fire station on Claiborne Avenue and the old livestock barn on Carrollton Avenue.
