Over 40 volunteers removed nearly 1,200 pounds of trash from the Smith River, tributaries and roads in Martinsville and Henry County this past weekend on April 15.^th Annual Smith River cleanup event hosted by the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) and Henry County.

“It’s incredible how hard these volunteers work throughout the three-hour event, and we are so grateful to each and every one of them for generously donating their time to try to reverse the impacts of people littering in our area,” said Brian Williams, DRBA Virginia program manager. “We have people of all ages helping to keep our river healthy for people and animals. These volunteers really make a huge impact on every person who lives in Henry County and Martinsville, as well as the thousands of people who live downstream. The good news is that we see a little less trash every year. That means a lot of people are taking better care of their community and making a difference for future generations.”

Volunteers met at the sports complex in Axton, VA at 9:00 a.m. and chose whether they wanted to help on the water or on land. Volunteers were given gloves, trash bags, trash pickers, and safety vests before heading out to collect trash. Groups collected trash and debris until about noon before returning to the sports complex for lunch and the raffle drawing.

Henry County and Henry County Adult Detention Center staff collected trash from the various locations and brought it to the transfer station after the event for disposal. Tires were the most common trash collected, and plastic bottles and cans were the most common.

“A lot of trash and garbage washes up from the streets and ends up directly in the Smith River,” said Tracy McKoy, beautification coordinator for Henry County. “A clean river and a clean community not only means healthy fish and wildlife and cleaner drinking water for our citizens. It can also impact economic development and be a factor in companies’ decisions to locate in our region.”

Boxley sponsored the volunteer lunch this year and Angler’s Choice, Hugo’s, Rural King, Henry County, Henry County Public Safety, Rooster Walk, DRBA and Lisa Simons provided raffle prizes.

“No one gets paid to keep our waterways clean. The only people who do it are those very special volunteers who give up several hours on a Saturday morning,” said Tiffany Haworth, executive director of the DRBA. “Many people don’t realize that the trash that you don’t put in the trash can ends up in the river. All it takes is for every resident of Martinsville and Henry County to simply take a moment and throw their trash where it belongs.”

The Dan River Basin Association is a nonprofit environmental organization that protects the region’s natural resources, such as the Dan River and its tributaries. The DRBA works to promote tourism as well as a healthy lifestyle. The DRBA assists communities in creating community parks, trails, and access to local rivers and streams. Its mission is to protect and promote the Dan River Basin through recreation, education, and stewardship.

Visit www.danriver.org to learn more about protecting and conserving our local natural resources and how you can get involved in your community.