Press Release: Great Days of Service Returns to Gwinnett County

Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources to Host Sweetwater Watershed Cleanup October 22; Volunteers Sought

Lawrenceville, Ga. – October 14, 2016 – In commemoration of the 17th year of Great Days of Service – a cooperative and community-focused initiative created by the Gwinnett Coalition of Health and Human Services, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful is teaming up once again with its partners at Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources to focus on the health of a local watershed that feeds into waterways leading all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. To that end, the local Keep America Beautiful affiliate will play host to a cleanup event for Sweetwater Watershed in Duluth on Saturday, October 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers are currently being sought to take part in this community and environYoung Volunteers Show Off a Clean Watershed Thanks to their Hard Work During Great Days of Service 2014mentally-focused event.

A watershed comprises the area of land surrounding a lake, stream or pond. Water from rain and runoff flows downhill from the watershed into the waterway, often carrying any litter, chemical pollution and the like with it. The reasons to protect the health and sustainability of a watershed reach far beyond its impact on the physical beauty of the area. The alarming truth is that everything that happens on and around the watershed can have an impact on nearby waterways. The very same waterways that sustain life for local flora and fauna, serve as an outlet for recreational pursuits like fishing and swimming, and sometimes even provide drinking water for Gwinnett residents and neighbors further downstream.

“For the last two years, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful has focused its efforts on the Jackson Creek and Beaver Ruin Watersheds during Great Days of Service,” explained Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. “This year, we shift our focus to the Sweetwater Watershed which impacts the Duluth-Lawrenceville area. We’ve never hosted a stream or watershed cleanup event at this location in the past, so we’re expecting that it will take a lot of volunteers to have a major influence on the appearance, protection and preservation of this particular watershed. We’re hoping for a big turnout from eco-conscious individuals, local companies, civic groups, high school green teams and neighborhood associations within the area so we can restore the natural beauty and health of Sweetwater Watershed to its former glory. Because it takes a little exploring to find them, it’s all too easy to take these areas for granted and not realize the effect they can have on the major waterways, native plants and local wildlife they feed.”

Registration to volunteer is open now through October 20 at www.gwinnettcb.org. On the day of the event, volunteers can expect to be assigned to a variety of tasks including the removal of litter for the vitality and beautification of the watershed and the Storm Drain Stenciling Program to discourage illegal dumping and educate people that all storm drains lead to streams. All volunteers must be 14 or older to participate in this service project. Volunteers will need to wear old clothes, closed-toed shoes, and long pants, and should come with a Volunteer Release Form in hand – which is available on the Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful website. All necessary equipment, water and lunch will be provided. Volunteers will receive a free t-shirt to commemorate their participation in the event*.

About Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful:  Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Services, Inc. (GCB) is a Keep America Beautiful affiliate and award-winning 501(c)(3) charitable organization. It boasts an expansive community-based network dedicated to finding long-term solutions to environmental and quality of life issues through individual action. The organization is guided by a Citizens Advisory Board that represents all sectors of the Gwinnett County community. A nationally recognized leader in creating cleaner, greener and more livable communities throughout Gwinnett, GCB involves more than 100,000 volunteers annually to clean and restore public places, recycle more, protect watersheds and develop the next generation of environmental stewards. To learn more about Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, please visit www.GwinnettCB.org.

* While supplies last.

 

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