Volunteers sought for future cleanup efforts along Mississippi corridor
A sampling of the debris hauled in during a Feb. 19 cleanup along the Great River Road near Alton.
ALTON — The nation’s only campaign to help the entire Mississippi River, 1Mississippi, is partnering with the local Sierra Club’s Three River Project to host a series of cleanups along the Great River Road and other roadways.
On Feb. 18, more than 40 volunteers picked up more than 90 bags of trash on the Great River Road and Clifton Terrace Road. Some 31 tires, a mattress, a Wave Runner hull, large chunks of Styrofoam, and a typewriter were among the debris. The group had the Alton Police Department involved because they came across ten hypodermic needles on the edge of the City. The village of Godfrey and Illinois Department of Transportation assisted by setting out road safety signs, donatingd trash bags and safety vests, or in removing the trash piles on the side of the Great River Road including the tires.
Christine Favilla, Three Rivers Project co-coordinator of the Sierra Club, said volunteers are needed for future events. Preregistration is encouraged by sending an email to IL1Mississippi@biodiverse.org or at (618) 520-9749 and leaving a message.
One volunteer day will be Saturday, March 18, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Confluence Trash Bash. Another will be two opportunities on Saturday, April 29: Alton Main Street’s Citywide Litter Cleanup and Riverbend Earth Day Festival.
Alton Citywide Litter Cleanup is from 9 to noon, rain or shine. Any questions can be directed toward Sara McGibany from Alton Main Street: sara@altonmainstreet.org .
The Riverbend Earth Day Festival will be noon to 6 p.m. Email the organizer, acurry@thenatureinstitute.org .
The Mississippi River Network, a coalition dedicated to protecting the Mississippi River, offers people the opportunity to sign up as River Citizens and take a pledge to act and speak out on behalf of the river.
The network is managed by Bluestem Communications and supported by McKnight Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation. Visit 1mississippi.org for more information.
— From the Illinois Business Journal
