Volunteers set to clean Valley Creek Aug. 20

What: The 6th annual Valley Creek cleanup is Saturday, Aug. 20. Volunteers should report at 8:30 a.m. to one of the following six collection sites: McNeil Park in Bessemer, Five Points West Birmingham Public Library, B.Y. Williams Sr. Drive in Midfield or Valley Creek Bridge on John’s Road, Lock 17 Road or Toadvine Road. 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 Division, the Storm Water Management Authority, city of Birmingham Stormwater program, city of Bessemer Stormwater program, Freshwater Land Trust, Boat Alabama and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Reserves, Alabama Power Renew Our Rivers, the cities of Birmingham, Midfield, Pleasant Grove, Hueytown, Brighton and 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 and Tallapoosa rivers, and other waterways.

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

Directions: Location 1: McNeil Park, 1931 13th St. N., Bessemer. Location 2: Five Points West Birmingham Public Library, 4812 Ave. West, Birmingham. Location 3: Vacant lot next to Freewill Church of God in Christ, 545 B.Y. Williams Sr. Drive, Midfield. Location 4: Valley Creek Bridge, John’s Road. Location 5: Valley Creek Bridge, Toadvine Road. Location 6: Valley Creek Bridge, Lock 17 Road.

Volunteer Contact: For additional information, visit www.jcdh.org