By Anne Parker

FRANKLIN

The Franklin Garden Club and the Historic Southside Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists are pleased to report that their efforts for the March, April, May Clean Rivers Month have been a resounding success. Over 207 people volunteered their time to ensure that the community in which we live and work remains as pristine as possible. We are extremely fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful waterways and scenic views. The volunteer hours put forth by these groups help maintain the beauty and health of the rivers and our community.

There were 421 bags of trash collected plus 14 tires, five paint cans, five metal buckets, a car bumper, part of a camper, a television, several pieces of metal and two flags on a pole. This trash was collected from the Blackwater and Nottoway rivers, roadside ditches and other areas that feed the rivers. There were 518 total volunteer hours.

Groups that participated include:

1. Beaverdam Baptist Church – 26 bags of trash; 10 members; 40 hours volunteered

2. Bronco Federal Credit Union – 15 bags of trash; 15 members; 15 hours volunteered

3. Camp Parkway Neighbors – 14 bags of trash; 12 members; 36 hours volunteered

4. Christopher D. Ray Foundation – 10 bags of trash; eight members; 40 hours volunteered

5. Country Acres Garden Club – 13 bags of trash; eight members; 16 hours volunteered

6. Dick and Dottie Gilbert – Two bags of trash; two members; 2.5 hours volunteered

7. Feridies – 18 bags of trash; 21 members; 42 hours volunteered

8. Franklin Garden Club – 26 bags of trash; nine members; 28 hours volunteered

9. Franklin Lions Club – Eight bags of trash; nine members; 14 hours volunteered

10. GFWC Tarrara Women’s Club and other groups from Boykins – 186 bags of trash; 41 members 144 hours volunteered

11. Girl Scout Troop 1701 – Four bags of trash; 12 members; 18 hours

12. Liam Harper and Pops – Four bags of trash; two members; 5.5 hours volunteered

13. High Street United Methodist Church Youth Group – 12 bags of trash; 12 members; 24 hours volunteered

14. Historic Southside Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists – Nine bags of trash; four members; 12 hours volunteered

15. Hubbard Peanut Company – 44 bags of trash; 13 members; 26 hours volunteered

16. James L. Camp YMCA Leaders Club – 10 bags of trash; 23 members; 23 hours volunteered

17. Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia – Four bags of trash; four members; eight hours volunteered

18. River Birch Farm – Six bags of trash; one member; 14 hours volunteered

19. Blackwater Nottoway Riverguard – 10 bags of trash; one member; 10 hours volunteered

We are aware that they were others who participated in Clean Rivers Month, but these were the groups that were registered. It is not too late to participate in Clean Rivers Month. If you would like to contribute to the health of the Blackwater and Nottoway watershed community in which we live, please contact Dick Gilbert rbgilbert@gmail.com or Anne Parker annegbparker@gmail.com. We have litter getters, vest and bags for those who need them.

The sponsors of this event, the Franklin Garden Club and the Historic Southside Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist, appreciate all the work done by these volunteers and look forward to another successful cleanup in the future.