ON THE WEBTo learn more about Gov. Sonny Perdue's statewide anti-littering campaign, visit www.litteritcostsyou.org/.GET INVOLVEDFor more information on the cleanup project, call Joyce Harrison at 706-375-9089 or Trudy Arrington at 706-375-5354.
By Andy Diffenderfer
Correspondent
The Chickamauga Woman's Club is hoping to pick up more volunteers in its effort to clean up Walker County roadsides.
"We're trying to educate people on the problem of litter," said Joyce Harrison, club president. "We want to change habits and engender pride in our community and try to beautify what we already have. Our main goal is to educate, but our ultimate goal is that there's nothing (left) to pick up."
The club will hold a spring cleanup April 10 in conjunction with the national Keep America Clean program.
Club members kicked off their campaign with a Nov. 14 cleanup originating from Holland-Watson Memorial Veterans Park in Chickamauga, Ga. More than 50 volunteers in orange vests and gloves collected more than 50 33-gallon bags of litter and more than 25 bags of cans from roads and trails in town, officials said.
The club is partnering with other civic organizations to get its message out, and more volunteers would help spread the word around the county, Mrs. Harrison said. More signs and citations for littering offenders also would increase awareness, she said.
She said the club will involve as many organizations as possible "until we see results. We're committed to results."
As part of the campaign, the club collected 98 entries in a poster contest at Cherokee Ridge Elementary, Chickamauga Elementary and Gordon Lee Middle schools to encourage the use of proper receptacles.
The prevention project has had "100 percent cooperation" from merchants and county leaders, according to Mrs. Harrison.
"I am deeply grateful to them for initiating this cleanup," said Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell. "We are in full support and plan to help them in any way we can."
Chickamauga City Manager John Culpepper said the issue is "a real problem, and I commend them for taking this on."
The club, Mrs. Harrison said, is about helping those in need, and it contributes to local schools and civic organizations. Trash along streets and highways caught the attention of members, she said, "and everybody agreed it was a problem."
Club member Ginny Mason said the problem is "something we all need to be more aware of. People just need to stop and think."
Andy Diffenderfer is based in LaFayette, Ga. Contact him at andydiff97@comcast.net.