The Great American Cleanup, sponsored by Keep Vicksburg-Warren Beautiful, kicks off Sunday and, unlike years past, will include several workdays, not just one.

To help

To participate in the Great American Cleanup, contact Holley Simrall, director of Keep Vicksburg-Warren Beautiful, at 601-618-5786 or holleysimrall@gmail.com. The effort kicks off Sunday and runs through May 1. A cleanup day has been set for noon March 18 at the Firehouse Gallery, Main and Openwood streets. The next KVWB meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Waste Management, 3700 U.S. 61 South.

The Vicksburg event will run through May 1.

“The organization is looking for people in the community to get the word out about the Great American Cleanup and to donate manpower,” said Michelle Hilbun, KVWB president.

For two decades, the Great American Cleanup has served as a national program that encourages people to clean and beautify their communities. In 2008, more than 3 million volunteers and attendees donated some 6.7 million hours improving communities across the country.

A work site can be any nonprofit property accessible to the community, such as parks and gardens. Community members are encouraged to plant trees, recycle plastics, apply paint or pick up litter.

Since several workdays will be scheduled, KVWB is seeking more volunteers and work sites this year. In the past decade, said KVWB executive director Holley Simrall, the number of volunteers has declined.

“We need to pull as many volunteers and work sites as possible,” said Simrall, who has led KVWB for 13 years.

So far, the Firehouse Gallery has been confirmed as a cleanup site. The date is noon March 18.

Participants will receive event T-shirts, sponsored by DiamondJacks and Ameristar casinos.

The next KVWB meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Waste Management on U.S. 61 South. For information, call 601-618-5786 or e-mail holleysimrall@gmail.com.

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchanprasith@vicksburgpost.com.