(Pinellas County, FL) (Aug. 4. 2020) People in Pinellas County can now come together to keep America beautiful and still stay safe during COVID-19.
Keep Pinellas Beautiful is launching its new #PickUpPinellas campaign immediately so volunteers, sidelined by safety concerns during the first months of the pandemic, can pick up litter in their neighborhoods with confidence. Individuals, families and small groups are welcome.
The effort is more important than ever now that protective equipment such as face masks and gloves are being discarded along with food wrappers, plastic packaging, cigarette butts and other trash, said Keep Pinellas Beautiful Executive Director Pat DePlasco.
#PickUpPinellas is a safer way for the community to participate in cleanups at a time when larger trash-pickup events are inadvisable. The traditional Great American Cleanup, an annual nationwide cleanup campaign that attracts thousands of participants in Pinellas County, had to be reimagined this year because of the danger of COVID-19.
#PickUpPinellas is a safer alternative that will improve the community and continue to fulfill the mission of Keep Pinellas Beautiful, the county’s leading litter-prevention nonprofit for 22 years.
“We adjusted our programming with the safety of our volunteers in mind,” DePlasco said.
Keep Pinellas Beautiful will provide free trash pickers, gloves and garbage bags. Participants can register online at www.kpbcares.org and share their success stories on social media using the hashtag #PickUpPinellas. They can call 727-533-0402 for more information.
By reducing the amount of trash on our streets, volunteers will help keep our waterways clean too. Eighty percent of the debris in our waterways comes from garbage discarded on land, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“Our collective efforts will definitely make a difference in our county, especially during these uncertain times,” DePlasco said.
What: #PickUpPinellas litter cleanup
When: Now through Oct. 19
Where: Throughout Pinellas County
Why: To keep county streets, beaches and waterways clean
Who: Keep Pinellas Beautiful, the local Keep America Beautiful affiliate, whose mission is community beautification.
About Keep Pinellas Beautiful
Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit organization and affiliate of Keep America Beautiful has the mission to conserve and beautify our natural environment by means of community engagement and education. Keep Pinellas Beautiful engages volunteers to foster unity and strengthen community bonds through community improvement and beautification efforts across Pinellas County. Our goal is to develop community ownership and pride to ensure the ongoing health and beauty of our home – where we all live, work, and play. For more information on how to help clean up and green up your community visit kpbcares.org, or contact us @727-533-0402, info@kpbcares.org.
About Keep America Beautiful
The Great American Cleanup is KAB’s signature event. Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 600 Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.