What:  The annual Valley Creek cleanup is Saturday, Aug. 19. Volunteers should report at 8:30 a.m. to one of the following five collection sites: Birmingham, Five Points West Library; Midfield, B.Y. Williams Sr. Drive; Bessemer, McNeil Park;  Jefferson County, Lock 17 Road Bridge or Toadvine Road Bridge. Volunteers should wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. Minors must have a chaperone to participate. The cleanup will finish at noon and lunch will be provided.

The Valley Creek cleanup is a communitywide partnership of the Jefferson County Department of Health Watershed Protection Program, the Storm Water Management Authority Inc., city of Birmingham Stormwater Program, city of Bessemer Stormwater Program, Freshwater Land Trust, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Reserves, Alabama Power Renew Our Rivers, the cities of Birmingham, Midfield, Lipscomb, Pleasant Grove, Hueytown, Brighton, Bessemer and Jefferson County.

Overview:  Volunteers for Renew Our Rivers, one of the Southeast’s largest river cleanup campaigns, have collected nearly 14 million pounds of trash and debris since the program’s inception in 2000. This year, 32 cleanups are planned through November on the Alabama, Black Warrior, Cahaba, Chattahoochee, Coosa, Mobile, Tallapoosa rivers and other waterways.

To learn more about volunteer efforts, visit our website, http://renewourrivers.com.

Directions:  Location 1: Five Points West Library, 4812 Ave. W., Birmingham

Location 2: 545 B.Y. Williams Sr. Drive, Midfield. Vacant lot next to Freewill Church of God in Christ

Location 3: McNeil Park, 1931 13^th St. N., Bessemer

Location 4: Lock 17 Road Bridge over Valley Creek, Jefferson County

Location 5: Toadvine Road Bridge over Valley Creek, Jefferson County

Volunteer Contact:  For additional information, visit www.jcdh.org. Click “Programs” and then “Valley Creek Clean-up.”