Keep America Beautiful's Great American Cleanup, the nation's largest community improvement program, takes place annually, involving an estimated 2.8 million volunteers and attendees. The volunteers donated more than 7.7 million hours in 2007 to clean, beautify and improve more than 17,000 communities during more than 30,000 events in all 50 states and beyond. Activities included beautifying parks and recreation areas, cleaning seashores and waterways, handling recycling collections, picking up litter, planting trees and flowers and conducting educational programs and litter-free events.

In Sarasota, the Great American Cleanup is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon on April 5 (rain date: April 12), please call 941-861-6767 for details about how you can help Keep Sarasota County Beautiful and for locations for the Great American Cleanup.

The Great American Cleanup - April 5

The 2008 Great American Cleanup National Sponsors are: American Honda Motor Co., Inc., The Dow Chemical Company, Firestone Complete Auto Care™ and Tires Plus™, GLAD® ForceFlex Trash Bags, Pepsi-Cola Company, Sam’s Club®, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Sprint Foundation, Troy-Bilt® Lawn and Garden Equipment, Waste Management, Inc. and the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company. Educational Partners: ReCellular, Inc. and Rubber Manufacturers Association.

(information courtesy of Keep America Beautiful)