Police Chief Bill Summerlin hopes to see his truck as full as it was after this previous community cleanup.
Pine Branch Baptist Church is throwing its hat into the ring of community clean-up in Spruce Pine.
The church will join Spruce Pine Police Chief Bill Summerlin and his department’s efforts to clean up the community during the next pickup day, scheduled for Thursday, May 19.
Volunteers will pick up litter in the Pine Branch Road area, starting at 6 p.m. and running until about 8 p.m.
To sweeten the deal, volunteers will be treated to a meal in the Pine Branch Baptist Fellowship Hall starting at 5 p.m. After the pickup, volunteers are invited back to the Fellowship Hall for an ice cream social.
Summerlin approached the Spruce Pine Town Council earlier this year about the need to clean up area roadsides.
Led by his efforts, volunteer groups have picked up trash on area roadsides several times since then. Members of the Spruce Pine Town Council and Mayor Darla Harding recently rolled up their sleeves and did so on Highway 19E.
All necessary materials and safety equipment are provided and Summerlin takes care of disposing of the collected trash after it’s placed in the back of his truck.
Summerlin said he hopes to see the volunteer efforts continue to grow, with businesses and individuals who work and live in the area engaging with their neighbors to clean up the streets.