FORT BENNING, Ga., (Oct. 1, 2014) -- Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation's Outdoor Recreation and the Fort Benning Environmental Management Division have partnered to host Help the Hooch. Volunteers are needed to help clean ponds, creeks and other waterways on Fort Benning. All volunteers will receive gloves, trash receptacles and other supplies.
Jessica Loughman, EMD watershed specialist and event co-coordinator, said volunteers collected 40 yards worth of trash last year and 1.5 million tons of waste over the past six years.
"We host Help the Hooch to get the local public involved in cleaning their local waterways like the Chattahoochee River and Upatoi Creek so they can actually see where all of the trash ends up and remember to not throw trash on the ground," she said. "Many people don't know that the trash they throw on the ground ends up in our waterways. Not only is that a hazard to the local environment, but to people who like to use the streams for recreation."
Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at Russ Pond and assigned a location to pick up trash. Participants can also register online a select a site from a link on the DFMWR website. Loughman said the cleanup is a safe and fun event for all ages.
"We actually have Faith Middle School participating again and McBride Elementary," she said. "The (Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade) dive team will also participate in the cleanup on Saturday. They will be diving and pulling out trash from the river."
Volunteers are invited to a "thank you" lunch at noon at Russ Pond. Volunteers must register to receive lunch and a T-shirt. For more information, call 706-545-6323 or visit www.benningmwr.com.
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