Dan River Basin Association to Fight Litter

For those of you keeping score, this is our 30th Grant Winner!  We have been awarding daily grants in April and May to organizations and groups around the Commonwealth who wish to help Keep Virginia Beautiful’s mission of litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, beautification, and education.  Our “30 in 30” program is made possible by some fantastic partners:  Capital One, Waste Management, and Lowe’s.

Today’s winner is the Dan River Basin Association!  They are receiving $750 in the Litter Prevention category.DRBA
Youngsters and the DRBA
The Dan River Basin Association(DRBA) is going to launch a unique anti-litter campaign along the Smith River in Henry County.  The banks of the river are littered with styrofoam bait cups, snack wrappers, discarded cans, and tangled fishing line.  Much has been made about this issue in the local media, and the county is seriously considering installing cameras in order to identify and hopefully prosecute the litterbugs.  The DRBA, however, has a much better and clever idea.

They feel, and we agree, that the best way to combat litter is to start with children.  Engaging children in fighting litter trickles UP!  They learn the importance of Keeping Virginia Beautiful and get their parents involved as well.  If one child is doing it, every child will want to, and no family wants to be left out!  The DRBA is partnering with the Henry County Public Schools to create an Art/Slogan Contest.  They will use artwork and slogans designed by Henry County students for an anti-litter campaign.  The winning entries will be used on signage, t-shirts, caps, stickers, and other items that will be distributed all over the area.  Henry County is proposing to use the artwork on their new garbage trucks, so as they travel the county it will be a reminder to NOT LITTER!  Henry County students will have a sense of accomplishment for having an impact, have the pride of seeing their artwork and words across the county, and will receive valuable education about the litter problem along the Smith River.

The DRBA is also holding a county-wide event along the Smith River to get some hands dirty and clean up some of the litter that is already there.  They think that this campaign, and engaging all of these children, will have a huge impact on the problem, will bring a large number of people to the clean up, and maybe even attract some media!  Folks who live along the Smith River in Henry County will feel a tremendous sense of pride in their community and their youngsters.