Community picks up trash on clean up day in Valley

BY JOHN BRICE, FOR THE LAFAYETTE SUN

VALLEY — Local residents and community leaders gathered Saturday, Sept. 5,  morning at the Historic Langdale Farmers Market on 20th Avenue for a community clean up day.

The event was organized by nonprofit The Valley Local in partnership with the City of Valley Parks and Recreation Department. Volunteers wearing orange safety vests and gloves spread out through the area, collecting trash in garbage bags.

Sara Crutchfield, founder of The Valley Local, said volunteers encountered less trash than they had during a previous clean up.

“I will say compared to the last time we did it, there was not as much trash,” Crutchfield said. “I am hopeful that means our community has been more mindful with throwing trash out, or maybe others are just helping to clean it up.”

Crutchfield said the organization held a similar clean up earlier this year, targeting several areas of the city.

“We scattered over three different areas of the city which we felt needed to be cleaned —  the Shawmut area, the Fairfax area, different things,” she said. “We look to do this twice a year annually.”

She said the event also provides an opportunity for students and others to earn community service hours while helping keep the area clean.

Crutchfield said volunteers divided into groups after arriving and were provided bags, gloves and safety vests.

“The city of Valley helps us with disposing of the trash,” she said. “Jon from Parks and Rec. had a trailer to help put all the bags of trash on and then dispose of them for us.”

Crutchfield said the effort depends on the partnership between The Valley Local and Valley Parks and Recreation.

“It is a partnership and an effort for sure between us and Valley Parks and Recreation, so we are thankful for their support as well,” she said.

The Historic Langdale Farmers Market serves as the traditional meeting point for the clean up effort.

“That is typically where we always meet to start community clean up day, and that is where we always end,” Crutchfield said. “It is just a good starting and ending point as a local location.”

She said the idea for the clean up grew out of concerns about litter along area roadways.

“The first one was last year, and we just noticed there was a lot of trash thrown on the side of the roads,” Crutchfield said.

Crutchfield said her husband’s grandfather had also frequently commented on the growing need to keep the area cleaner.

Beyond beautifying the community, Crutchfield said she hopes the effort helps teach younger participants about the effects of littering.

“I really think it teaches the students about the importance of not littering because they are seeing that somebody has got to pick it up,” she said.

She said she also hopes seeing volunteers at work encourages others to be more mindful.

“I feel when people are driving by and see trash is being picked up, it is guiding people to not throw trash out,” Crutchfield said. “The goal is for it not to be something our community even needs us to do.”

Crutchfield said she would like to eventually see a day when there is little or no trash left to collect.

“As long as we see it as we go down the road, we will definitely put forth the initiative of helping to keep our area clean,” she said.

She said the appearance of the community matters not only to residents, but also to visitors.

“We want outsiders who come to visit Chambers County or Valley, for it to be welcoming and not have trash on the sides of the roads,” Crutchfield said.

She said The Valley Local chose to focus its efforts in Valley because Lanett already holds its own clean up events.

“This was something the city of Valley didn’t have, so we looked at it as an opportunity,” she said.

Crutchfield said the effort is ultimately about taking care of the community and encouraging more people to become involved.

“We are taking care of the place we call home, I do care about the place I call home,” she said. “I hope people are learning, and it is helping to encourage others to get more involved in the community.”

She said community life is still rebuilding from the disruptions that began in 2020.

“Here we are six years later, and I feel like we are still trying to get back into being in person for things, just being the community that we were prior to that,” Crutchfield said.