Spring is my favorite time of year! Fresh blooms and the promise of warmer weather make my heart happy. At PALS, spring means it is time for our “Don’t Drop it on Alabama” Spring Cleanup, Earth Day events, and contest due dates for our poster and recycled art contests. These annual events serve as a reminder of what we should be doing all year … looking for ways to keep Alabama cleaner and more beautiful every day!
One way that we work toward keeping Alabama more beautiful all year long is by educating students about litter through the Clean Campus Program. We normally visit around 50 schools each year to spread the anti-litter message and encourage schools to take action against litter. Two schools I met with recently were Southside High School in Etowah County and Hanceville Elementary School in Cullman County.
At Southside High School, I spoke with three different environmental science classes in 10th-12th grades. These students did not just hear the message, they put their ideas into action by conducting a local cleanup (as pictured). PALS provided the bags for this cleanup, and we are happy to supply bags to your local schools for any cleanups they would like to conduct.
At Hanceville Elementary School, I visited with a group of 120 first graders and encouraged them to start early making good habits when it comes to litter. They learned why litter is “bad,” and how they can make a difference even at a very young age. They were also the recipients of newly printed PALS anti-litter coloring books!
As I mentioned earlier, our Poster and Recycled Art Contests are due April 19th. The Poster Contest theme this year is “From the Hills to the Shore, No More Litter in 2024!” All contest information may be found in our newsletter online at www.alpals.org. If a school near you would like to schedule a visit or has any other questions, I may be reached at (334) 263-7737 or [email protected]. Alabama PALS programs are free to schools thanks to our state partnerships and corporate sponsors.
The heat of the summer is upon us, but we at PALS are still remembering all the successes of the “Don’t Drop it on Alabama” Spring Cleanup. For the past several years, we have partnered with Alabama Community College System to incorporate the Spring Cleanup at many campuses. Our partnership with Coca-Cola UNITED as the title sponsor, as well as newly added partner, Alabama Association of RC&D Councils, proved to be a winning combination to up participation to every campus within the system this year!
We received reports of thousands of pounds of litter being removed from all over our state by the faithful student volunteers who came out to clean up. Mr. David Walters, State Director of Special Projects with ACCS, noted that the colleges have always taken pride in cleaning up their communities, but this year they have reinvigorated their efforts to produce phenomenal results. The pictures speak for themselves! We are so grateful for this partnership and the wonderful work done by the students of the Alabama Community College System.
Coming up on September 21st will be our 37th Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup event. If you’d like to join us this year, check out www.alabamacoastalcleanup.com for more information! In the meantime, as you enjoy the rest of your summer and maybe take a trip to the beach or lake, please remember to keep all loose items contained on your boat and remove all belongings from the beach.
PALS is so thankful for our network of volunteers, sponsors, and members that continue to make our organization stronger each year! If you are interested in any PALS programs, please visit www.alpals.org. And if a school near you would like to schedule a visit or has any other questions, I may be reached at (334) 263-7737 or [email protected]. Alabama PALS programs are free to schools and individuals thanks to our state partnerships and corporate sponsors.