In honor of the Nelsonville Beautification Day and the Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup event, Hocking College staff and students volunteered to clean up campus and the surrounding area last Saturday, April 16.  AmeriCorps volunteers and the Hocking College Office of Sustainability worked with thirteen students including members of the Hocking College Basketball team to pick up litter on campus, the bike path and the wooded riparian area along the Hocking River.  In total the group collected six bags of garbage, one bag of recyclables, and a few large items.  

In its 18th year, the Great American Cleanup is the country’s largest community improvement program. The campaign is led by more than 600 Keep America Beautiful affiliates and hundreds of other partner organizations, with events formally kicking off around the first day of spring and continuing throughout the year. This year’s Great American Cleanup theme — “Clean Your Block Party” — encourages volunteers to participate in a Great American Cleanup event and bring the experience home by organizing a cleanup and beautification event on their own block.

Across Ohio, members in AmeriCorps programs similar to AmeriCorps College Completion Coaches work hard to help solve Ohio’s critical economic challenges by improving the lives of thousands of our most vulnerable citizens. Every day, they help children learn to read, rebuild communities struck by environmental tragedies, transform failing schools and revitalize communities. They do this through direct service and by mobilizing thousands of additional volunteers. ServeOhio, and The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) provides AmeriCorps and administers funding to Ohio.