Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful is calling on the community to help clean the Etowah River during its annual River Float-Cleanup on Friday, May 16. Volunteers will paddle down the river in kayaks or canoes, picking up litter along the way.
Launched in 2017 through a partnership with Keep Bartow Beautiful, the event highlights both the beauty of Rome’s rivers and the impact of everyday pollution. “Everything ends up in the river—storm drains carry it there,” said former KRFB director Mary Hardin Thornton. “We want people to see how connected our environment really is.”
Participants will meet at 8 a.m. at Neel’s Landing Boat Ramp off Macedonia Road at U.S. 411 in Kingston. The trip usually last between three and four hours.
Free rentals are available thanks to support from local partners. Those who prefer land-based volunteering can help with shoreline cleanup and planting a pollinator garden.
“The goal is to clean up and also raise awareness,” said KRFB Program Coordinator Hannah Bagley. “It’s a relaxing way to make a real difference.”
Register at KeepRomeFloydBeautiful.org under “Upcoming Events.”
