Spring has sprung and communities throughout Hancock County are working to take action to insure that neighborhoods, highways and downtown districts are clean and beautiful as we enter the busy tourist season. Work began this week with city and county government leading the way, intensifying efforts to manicure main roadways in and around Hancock County.
Every citizen and business owner can do their part to help in the effort.
“Our goal is to spend the weekend focused on beautification efforts throughout the county through a #cleanYOURblock initiative,” said Katharine Ohman, chairman of the Hancock Chamber Beautification Committee.
This program, established by Keep America Beautiful, is a call to action to engage more volunteers and participants in public space cleanup and beautification.
Ohman says the committee hopes that citizens will be inspired to organize neighborhood clean-ups in residential and business districts – right on their own block – with neighbors, family and friends.
“Hancock County has never looked more beautiful because local government, businesses, civic organizations and dedicated volunteers all work together to help transform public spaces into beautiful places,” she said “We want to make sure every neighborhood is a clean, green and beautiful place to live and thrive in,” she said.
Ohman says the goal is to spread the word on the value of beautifying communities, educate and encourage volunteers to build a sense of community pride and stewardship, and offer experiences that help change behaviors in our communities, block by block.
“Working together, we can help foster communities that are environmentally and economically healthier, while strengthening the critical connection between people and places,” she said.
Simple things citizens can do:
1. Keep your lawns litter free, mowed and edged;
2. Plant trees and plants to improve curbside appeal;
3. Hide or remove unsightly items;
4. Remove unnecessary yard signs; and,
5. Recycle and use bins provided by the cities and county for proper disposal for reuse.
This weekend, share your clean-up efforts on the Hancock Chamber Facebook page and with your family and friends. On Friday, April 13th at 10am in Waveland, the Keep Waveland Beautiful Committee is hosting a spring clean-up day at the Fire Department on Highway 90. On Saturday, April 14th at 9am, the Master Gardners are hosting a pot luck breakfast at the Bay St. Louis Community Garden (across from the Senior Citizens Center).
This effort is inspired by Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, which educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. To be a part of the Hancock Chamber Beautification Committee, contact the office at 228-467-9048 or email Katharine Ohman at ktolsu@hotmail.com.