16th Annual Francis Marion National Forest Cleanup Coming Soon
Columbia, SC (December 19, 2022) – The 2023 Francis Marion National Forest Cleanup will be the 16th annual event, which brings together more than 300 volunteers in one-day to pick up litter from one of the state’s most popular outdoor recreational areas. Annually, PalmettoPride partners with the US National Forest Service, and Keep Berkeley Beautiful to make this event possible.
The Francis Marion National Forest cleanup will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023 starting at 9:00 a.m. Volunteers of all ages are asked to join together at US Forest Service Office, located at 2967 Steed Creek Road, Huger, SC, to make a big difference in just a few hours.
“This annual event has helped to reduce the overall amounts of litter in the forest, however with the population growth and new developments, we continue to have litter issues along our roadways,” said Sarah Lyles, PalmettoPride’s Executive Director. “It’s clear that our citizens have a passion for our being landscapes and want to help in its protection.”
Individuals and groups will be directed to various roadside locations for roadway pickup of trash and debris. Larger groups and partner organizations will be directed into the forest with trucks, Jeeps and other equipment to tackle the illegal dumpsites. The 2022 cleanup efforts removed 27,000 pounds of trash from the forest. Each year, PalmettoPride sees the numbers of overall trash decreasing, which is a good sign. Consistent litter cleanup leads to less litter over time.
For more information about the cleanup or ways to get involved please visit PalmettoPride’s website or contact Joseph Berry at jberry@palmettopride.org.