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 26 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Gwinnett County “leg” of the Shore Sweep will be located at Gwinnett Park at 1500 Buford Dam Road in Buford.
“Lake 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,” said Connie Wiggins, Executive Director for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. “It is also a source for fish and wildlife, flood control, hydroelectric power, and water supply for more than 4 million Georgians. It’s vital that we work together to protect her waters and her shoreline – not just for economic reasons, but for very real environmental concerns. This is one of our favorite events of the year. It’s a wonderful time to enjoy the natural beauty of this local treasure while making an impact for a very worthy cause. We applaud Lake Lanier Association for their ongoing efforts and are honored to serve alongside them. In celebration of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s 35th birthday and the commemoration of the Shore Sweep’s 27th year, we would really love to have the largest response from volunteers in the event’s history. It’s a terrific opportunity for individuals, corporate groups, local churches, high school green teams, neighborhood associations, and other Gwinnett-based organizations to show their community pride and make a difference.”
On the day of the event, volunteers should report to Gwinnett Park to pick up trash bags and receive their shoreline litter pickup assignment. 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 both 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.
In addition to the Gwinnett Park event, the Lake Lanier Association, Inc. will host shore sweeps at eleven other trash collection sites including Aqualand Marina and Lake Lanier Islands Resort in Hall County, War Hill Park in Dawson County, and Bald Ridge and Port Royale Marinas in Forsyth County, among others. For more information and 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 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.
