The Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce's Community Pride Committee is kicking off its 2001 Clean-up, Green-up campaign March 31.
Volunteers are being sought from schools, churches, businesses and civic organizations. The committee is asking these volunteers to grab a bag and a pair of gloves and pick up trash in their community and neighborhoods.
The cleanliness of a community is a direct reflection of the citizens who live there and the pride they have for the environment around them.
When someone comes into a community where the streets and byways are covered in trash, it has leaves a bad impression. On the other hand, when someone comes into a clean, well-kept community, they can visibly see how important the city is to its residents.
Health factors also are involved when it comes to keeping our environment clean. When waste of any kind is left on the streets or dumped into rivers or streams, it can affect the drinking water or cause disease and other health-related conditions for the people who live in that area.
It can't be healthy to have old hot water heaters, refrigerators and air conditioners thrown into rivers and streams, not to mention the dead carcasses of deer and other animals.
It is so easy to keep a trash bag in our cars or have the city or county come out and pick up old furniture and appliances. And there's got to be a better place to dispose of dead animals other than throwing them in creeks.
Illegal dumping in the city of Greenwood carries a $100 fine, and dumping on state highways and in other areas of Leflore County can carry a fine as high as $250, according to the Justice Court officials.
So next time you get ready to throw a piece of trash out your car window or dump a bag of garbage or an appliance on an old deserted road, think about the consequences. It can cost the community and its people a whole lot more than just money.
As the March 31 event approaches, get a team together to participate in Clean-up, Green-up.
But don't let the effort stop there. Keep your neighborhood, schools, parks and businesses clean every day.
Let's show the world that Greenwood is proud of its community because its citizens keep it clean.
