Keep Marietta Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup

When you combine SM&P’s love of community service with their appreciation of our area’s beautiful outdoors, you know that Keep Marietta Beautiful’s Love the Loop event in support of the Great American Cleanup was the perfect volunteer opportunity for them. Again.

This year, Keep America Beautiful (KAB) is celebrating its 24th Cleanup with partners Keep Marietta Beautiful (KMB), Keep Georgia Beautiful, and the City of Marietta. Together they hosted the Great American Cleanup/Keep it Clean throughout Marietta on Saturday morning, April 9.

Neighborhood HOA’s, school groups, businesses, churches, and civic organizations joined community members to pick up litter along the streets of Marietta and its waterways such as Sope Creek. Some organizations participated by cleaning up their assigned Love the Loop/Adopt a Mile sections. The Parks and Recreation team picked up the trash piles as the cleanup teams created them.

Maggi Moss, executive director of KMB, couldn’t contain her enthusiasm for the good work of all the Great American Cleanup volunteers. “Marietta, you’ve outdone yourselves again! What a great turnout,” she said. “A huge ‘Thank You’ to the residents of Roosevelt Circle, Rigby Street, Lemon Street, Cole Street, and Turner Chapel AME for coming out and cleaning up Sope Creek. They have amazing community spirit and can-do attitudes.”

KMB’s mission is to generate environmental pride and a sense of ownership within the Marietta community through three core goals: litter prevention, beautification, and waste reduction. Their website points out that experience has shown that when people feel they are part of a community, they tend to not litter in their neighborhoods.

The neat appearance of a city not only positively affects its residents but can also influence new businesses and people to locate there. Where trash and graffiti exist, they tend to avoid that area.

“Unfortunately, there are still people who continue to litter,” said SM&P’s Victoria Turney, “but with volunteers, hopefully, we can counter any damage.”

“The commitment of Marietta’s community and business leaders like SM&P to an attractive environment is one reason we continue to draw businesses and new residents,” Maggi said.