Get Down and Clean Up
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

 

Litter Clean Up Kits Are Now Available for Check Out at Ouachita Parish Public Library

The Get Down and Clean Up Program by Keep Louisiana Beautiful

Empowers Citizens to Clean Up Litter in Their Communities

 

Ouachita Parish Public Library is proud to partner with Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) and the State Library of Louisiana as a Get Down and Clean Up program participant. Ouachita Parish Public Library is one of the public libraries in 31 parishes to help launch this program in Louisiana. Library card holders can now visit any of Ouachita Parish Public Library’s 10 branch locations to check out and return litter clean up kits which include litter grabbers, safety vests, and trash bags.

The Get Down and Clean Up program provides citizens a resource for accessing supplies to improve their communities. People of all ages can participate in this program, but adult supervision (18+ and up) is required. With their supplies, participants will be given instructions with a QR code leading to an online reporting form for tracking hours, trash bags collected, and other pertinent statistics.

“This program provides the perfect opportunity for students to get service hours for school,” said Susan Russell, KLB Executive Director. “It’s also a great hands-on way for families, small homeschool groups, youth groups, and scouts to care for their neighborhood. We encourage you to have fun with it. Play some music and dance your way to a cleaner Louisiana!”

“When our neighborhoods are clean, everyone in the parish benefits,” says Nancy Green, Acting Director of Ouachita Parish Public Library. “If children grow up seeing their parents, teachers, and other community leaders picking up litter, it will show them how clean streets and neighborhoods are valued. We hope this encourages Ouachita Parish to act against litter and take pride in our community. We are excited to see our patrons make a difference in our parish.”

The launch of this program follows Love the Boot Week, Louisiana’s largest litter clean up and beautification effort organized by KLB. During Love the Boot Week, 12,777 citizens removed 313 tons of litter.