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Published: Friday, Feb. 01, 2013 / Updated: Friday, Feb. 01, 2013 08:02 PM

Help clean up Indian Land

Great American Cleanup is April 6

Spring is just around the corner, and it’s time to plan for the 3rd Annual Indian Land Community Cleanup – Indian Land’s participation in the Great American Cleanup held every year March through May. Each year residents have come together to pick up litter. In 2011, 183 volunteers picked up 460 bags of litter; in 2012, 210 volunteers picked up 302 bags. We are making a difference and raising awareness. This year the goal is to involve more groups, churches, businesses and individuals. This is your community; these are the roads you travel; these are the businesses you frequent. We especially challenge businesses to take a good look at their property.

We challenge everyone to do something. A few people can make a huge difference:

• Adopt-a-Highway groups can schedule one of their cleanup days on or around April 6.

• Subdivisions on a common road (like Jim Wilson and Calvin Hall) can work together as a team to clean up that road.

• Although schools are on Spring Break, they can pick another date. This is a wonderful learning experience about caring for the environment.

•  Churches can plan a day to spruce up their grounds.

•  Groups can target areas they think need attention.

•  Friends can help someone who needs assistance in cleaning up their yard.

• Neighbors can work together to pick up around their homes and the road in front of their house.

•  Businesses can form teams to clean up around their property and road entrances.

For beautification groups, neighborhood associations and non-profit organizations, there is an added incentive – you are eligible to apply for community pride grants of $2,000 through South Carolina Palmetto Pride. Details are at palmettopride.org/programs/awareness/awareness-grants. If you have a landscaping project but no money, this could help.

Indian Land Action Council will be coordinating the event and will arrange for bags, pick-up, etc. ILAC contact is Jan Tacy at 803-802-5412 or rjtacy@gmail.com. Get your group together and let us know. More information to come.

Jan Tacy

Vice-President, Indian Land Action Council