Our first cleanup took place Aug. 3 and we collected tons of cigarette butts, straws, bottles, cups, a beanbag, signs and even a pair of undies. We will be holding cleanups on the first Saturday of every month. Our next cleanup will be Sept. 7. Volunteers needed! We will provide all supplies. Just swing by The Girls Gone Green tent to pick up a bucket, gloves and a grabber.
Buckets and grain bags have been donated by local breweries and eateries. After the trash is collected in buckets, it's dumped into grain bags. By using grain bags instead of garbage bags, we are reusing an item that would normally be trashed – much better than using a fresh, clean garbage bag! Thank you to The Cleanup Cruiser for lending us their cleanup supplies. We even had little grabbers for the kiddos and loved seeing their excited faces as they helped pick up trash. Get youth involved whenever you can – they truly want to help and they are our future!
All litter has the potential to make it into our waterways. Remember, trash travels! Here in Jacksonville, we are lucky to have our beautiful St. Johns River, and the Riverside Arts Market is situated on it. We want to catch trash before it collects on the coastline or floats out to sea.
Would you like to get involved? Plan on coming to the next cleanup! You don't have to dedicate a huge portion of your day – every little bit helps. RAM takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. but we will be set up early. You can come cleanup before the market starts or stop by throughout the day.
RAM is located at 715 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32204. The next cleanup will be Saturday, Sept. 7. Questions? Email alicia@thegirlsgonegreen.com.