Duluth, GA – Environmentally-focused, community-based Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and its partners at Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources are currently seeking lake lovers, concerned citizens and environmental stewards to volunteer for the 2014 Lake Lanier Shore Sweep. The lake-wide event – created and organized by Lake Lanier Association, Inc. – relies upon the hard work and dedication of hundreds of volunteers to pick up litter along the shoreline that surrounds the popular 38,000 surface acre lake in Northeast Georgia. Scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 27 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Gwinnett County “leg” of the Shore Sweep will be located at Gwinnett Park on Buford Dam Road.
“We would love to help Lake Lanier Association make this year’s event the biggest and best on record,” said Connie Wiggins, Executive Director for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. “Part of our charge as an eco-friendly non-profit organization is to educate and motivate citizens to action where our environment is concerned. Lake Sidney Lanier is not only a scenic landmark that shares a shoreline in Gwinnett County, a beloved aquatic playground for thousands of Gwinnett citizens AND a popular tourist destination for leisure and business travelers with over 7.5 million visitors each year. It is also a source for fish and wildlife, flood control, hydroelectric power, and water supply for more than four million Georgians. It’s vital that we work together to protect her waters and her shoreline. Volunteers at this event will have a unique opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of this local treasure while getting their hands dirty for a very worthy cause. With a history that includes more than two decades of highly successful shore sweeps, we applaud Lake Lanier Association for their ongoing efforts. Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful is honored to serve alongside them and our friends at Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources.”
As thanks for participating in the Shore Sweep, all volunteers who turn in at least one full bag of trash will receive a t-shirt that they can wear with pride to let others know what a great environmental steward they are for their lake and surrounding community. For safety reasons, volunteers must be 10 or older, and anyone under the age of 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult. All participants are required to wear close-toed shoes, long pants, and clothing that they will not mind getting wet and dirty. Gloves, trash bags, water and snacks will be provided. For more information and to register as a volunteer, interested individuals, corporate groups, local churches, high school green teams, neighborhood associations, and other Gwinnett-based organizations are encouraged to visit the Lake Lanier Shore Sweep volunteer page at www.gwinnettcb.org.
In addition to the Gwinnett Park event, the Lake Lanier Association, Inc. will host shore sweeps at nine other trash collection sites including Lake Lanier Islands Resort in Hall County, War Hill Park in Dawson County, and Bald Ridge Marina in Forsyth County, among others. For a full listing of trash collection sites, please visit www.lakelanier.org/shore-sweep/.
About Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful: Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Services, Inc. (GCB) is an award-winning 501(c)3 charitable organization that boasts an expansive community-based network dedicated to finding long term solutions to environmental and quality of life issues through individual action. The organization is guided by a 55-member Citizens Advisory Board that represents all sectors of the Gwinnett County community. A nationally recognized leader in creating cleaner, greener and more livable communities throughout Gwinnett, GCB involves more than 100,000 volunteers annually to help prevent litter and graffiti, recycle and reduce waste, and increase environmental awareness. To learn more about Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and its programs, aspiring environmental stewards are invited to visit www.GwinnettCB.org.
About Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources: Widely recognized as a publicly-owned utility of the highest caliber through a commitment to and demonstration of operations and customer service excellence, the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources seeks to enhance quality of life by providing excellent water, wastewater, and storm water services at the best possible value to its customers while preserving natural water resources. For more information, please visit the Department of Water Resources at www.gwinnettcounty.com.
About Lake Lanier Association, Inc: Founded in 1966, Lake Lanier Association is the oldest volunteer group working to protect the high water quality as well as the Lake Lanier water level and to preserve its valuable legacy for future generations. Lake Lanier Association is a 501(c)(3) organization comprised of lake residents, individuals, families, businesses, boaters and fishermen dedicated to preserving the lake for future generations. Originally started as a group of homeowners, LLA has evolved and grown into a 4,500 member organization with a variety of programs supporting the mission of LLA to protect Lake Lanier and its watershed ensuring a clean and full Lake Lanier that enhances the lake’s economic value to Georgia. For more information, please visit www.lakelanier.org.
