VERONA, Va. (WHSV) – In Verona, volunteers came together Saturday to help clean up the Middle River and help the environment they call home.

“We collect tires, we collect trash and we try to keep the river clean, clean it and get people to take care of the river,” said project coordinator Don Kain.

Volunteers and members of the Friends of the Middle River got their canoes out and went into the water to clean up the river. Cain said he grew up in the area and the river has always been home to him.

“First of all, it is important to keep it clean because the creatures that live in the river need clean water. They need a good habitat and when people throw garbage into the river, they mess it all up,” said Kain.

With the help of 14 other volunteers, Kain and the group were able to collect trash for a mile along the streets and waterfront. But he said he gets frustrated with returning to the same areas over and over again, and he hopes the rest of the community will do their part.

“Last year we pulled over 200 tires out of the river,” Kain said. “We’re talking openly here. These people are concerned about the river, but some are throwing garbage out of their cars or dropping tires into the river. And we hope this will raise awareness in the community.”

Kain said the group already has many great volunteers and wants parents to help clean the river with their children because they are the future.

“We obviously hope it grows. We have a lot of energy right now, a lot of momentum. The growth we want to see is to get the younger people involved,” Kain said.

After the trash was loaded, the Friends of the Middle River took it to the dump before they reconvene on September 7 to clean the river again.

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