More than 40 volunteers removed nearly 1,200 pounds of trash from the Smith River, tributaries and roads in Martinsville and Henry County during the 15th Annual Smith River Cleanup event that is hosted by the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) and Henry County.
“It is amazing how hard these volunteers work during the 3- hour event and we are so grateful to each and every one of them who generously donates their time to try and reverse the impact of the people who litter in our area,” DRBA Virginia Program Manager Brian Williams said. “We have all ages come out to help keep our river healthy for people and wildlife. These volunteers are truly making a huge impact for every person who lives in Henry County and Martinsville as well as the thousands of people who live downstream. The good news is that we are seeing a bit less trash every year. That means a lot of people are taking better care of their community and making a difference for the future generations.”
The volunteers met at the Sports Complex in Axton and chose the option whether to volunteer on water or land crews. They were then provided gloves, trash bags, trash pickers and safety vests before they headed out to start collecting trash. The groups picked up trash and debris until around noon, and then returned to the sports complex for lunch and raffle drawings.
After the event, county staff and a workforce crew from the Henry County Adult Detention Center collected the trash from the different sites and hauled it to the Transfer Station for disposal. The biggest items collected were tires; the most popular items collected were plastic bottles and cans.
“A lot of the litter and debris washes in from the roads and goes directly into the Smith River,” said Tracy McKoy, the county’s Beautification Coordinator. “A clean river and a clean community doesn’t just mean healthy fish and wildlife and cleaner drinking water for our citizens. It can also have an impact on economic development and be a factor in companies deciding whether to locate in our region.”
Boxley sponsored the lunch this year for volunteers and Angler’s Choice, Hugo’s, Rural King, Henry County, Henry County Public Safety, Rooster Walk, DRBA, and Lisa Simons provided raffle prizes.
“No one is getting paid to keep our waterways clean. The only people that are doing this are these very special volunteers who give several hours on a Saturday morning to do it,” said Tiffany Haworth, executive director of DRBA. “Many people don’t realize that when they don’t throw trash in a trash can, it will ultimately end up in the river. It just takes every person who lives in Martinsville and Henry County to simply take a moment to throw their trash where it belongs.”
The Dan River Basin Association is an environmental non-profit that protects the region’s natural assets such as the Dan River and its tributaries. DRBA is working to promote tourism as well as healthy lifestyles. DRBA assists localities in creating community parks, trails and access to local rivers and streams. Its mission is to protect and promote the Dan River Basin through recreation, education and stewardship.
Visit www.danriver.org to learn more about protecting and conserving our local natural resources and how you can get involved in your community.
