Volunteers are still needed for this Saturday's Great American Cleanup event in Covington, Kentucky, which is regarded as the city’s largest annual volunteer day of service. Keep Covington Beautiful, in collaboration with the City of Covington’s Solid Waste & Recycling and Urban Forestry Divisions, is organizing the event.
The cleanup aims to inspire hundreds of volunteers across 15 locations in the city. Volunteers will engage in activities including trash and yard debris collection, graffiti removal, painting, pruning bushes, and planting flowers. The event will run from 9 a.m. to noon on April 26.
Mayor Ron Washington will officially declare “Great American Cleanup Day” with a written proclamation. This initiative aligns with the city’s efforts to improve life quality through litter prevention and recycling.
Jameela Saalah, Director of Program Impact at the Center for Great Neighborhoods, stated, "We’re grateful to see the community come together in support of keeping Covington beautiful. The Great American Cleanup is one of our largest events each year, both in terms of volunteer turnout and cleanup sites. I’m continually amazed by what we’re able to accomplish together through this event."
Registered cleanup locations include the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky, Hellmann Creative Center, and Botany Hills, among others. Holmes High School and Wallace Woods will conduct separate cleanups without outside volunteers.
The event is supported by Rumpke Waste and Recycling, which will provide necessary tools, trash bag removal, snacks, and giveaways for volunteers.
The city has long supported community initiatives for beautification. In 2017, Covington's mayor committed to the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge to restore monarch butterfly habitats. Covington Parks and Recreation will host events from June to educate residents about pollinators and refresh the city’s gardens.
To aid in the maintenance of pollinator gardens, volunteers can contact Haley Snook at Covington Parks and Recreation.