Biloxi has been selected as host site for the national kickoff of the Great American Cleanup, an annual effort where the Keep America Beautiful campaign asks residents in communities across the country to spend the day picking up litter and sprucing up neighborhoods.
The effort, which has become the signature event of the Keep America Beautiful campaign, is scheduled to kickoff at 8 a.m. Thursday, March 2 on the Town Green. A host of local, regional and national officials are expected to attend the kickoff, possibly generating national attention for Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Organizers from the Keep Mississippi Beautiful campaign are working with counterparts in Biloxi and Harrison County to recruit volunteers who will be provided trash bags and gloves before spending the day picking up litter in one of four zones of the city.
The zones:
–Zone 1, Biloxi Town Green, 710 Beach Blvd. Troy-Bilt, a national sponsor of the Great American Cleanup will be project leader for this zone.
–Zone 2 is the Purple Heart Memorial and Glennon Guice Park zone (directly across from the Town Green). These efforts will be lead by city workers.
–Zone 3 is the beach area in front of Edgewater Mall. It will be lead by county and local officials.
–Zone 4 is called “Ring around the School” and will be at Nativity BVM Elementary School, 1046 Beach Blvd. This effort will be led by third grade teacher Dawn Lyons.
Volunteers will be provided a free lunch at the Purple Heart Memorial near the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor, before resuming work at their respective zones. Work should be completed by 4 p.m.
Those interested in participating should contact Emily Burke, the city’s events coordinator, at eburke@biloxi.ms.us or by calling 228-435-6370 or 1-800-BILOXI-3.
