Those interested in helping beautify Chilton County can participate in a countywide cleanup April 16-23.

County litter agent Libby Ratliff is seeking church groups, civic groups, local businesses, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, schools and anyone interested in volunteering to help remove litter throughout the county.

The event is part of a statewide effort with Alabama People Against a Littered State (PALS) “Don’t Drop it on Alabama” spring cleanup.

Alabama PALS is a non-profit organization dedicated to working with communities throughout Alabama promoting litter prevention and cleanup control.

PALS provides trash bags for everyone that participates.

“Anyone interested in participating can do so that week,” Ratliff said. “It would be great to get a lot of participation to help clean up the county.”

Ratliff said a common misconception is that volunteers have to spend the entire week cleaning.

“Just because the cleanup is a week long doesn’t mean people have to clean the entire week,” Ratliff said. “Even if it is just for an hour, anything will help. This is a great opportunity for a group that might want to get out and clean up a road, or a creek. People can also form teams and participate.”

Ratliff said if a group is interested in forming a team, they could establish a “team leader” to let Ratliff know where the cleanup would take place, and she will come pick up the bags filled with litter.

“This is designed to be a time where people can come out and help clean up the county,” Ratliff said.

This is the fourth year for the county to participate, and Ratliff said every pound of litter collected would be counted.

“I will weigh each area of the county to see who collected the most, and then we submit that to the state,” Ratliff said. “It would be great if we could submit some high numbers this year.”

For more information about the cleanup, or to organize a team, contact Ratliff at (205) 351-1314.