Waterway Cleanups Catches $1,000 Green Grant
Waterway Cleanups in Stafford County is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Litter Prevention category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.
Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address environmental concerns in their community. Grants must focus on one of the following priorities: Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification.
As a brand-new nonprofit organization founded in 2025, we are focused on establishing our credibility and building strong community participation from the ground up.
Waterway Cleanups, a brand-new nonprofit organization founded in March 2025, is based in Stafford County. They are dedicated to protecting and restoring local waterways that include the Rappahannock River, Potomac River, and Aquia Creek. Their mission is to prevent trash, plastics, and pollutants from entering rivers and streams by organizing community-led cleanup events, engaging volunteers of all ages, and promoting environmental education.
Waterway Cleanups’ inaugural seasonal program is dedicated to reducing pollution in Stafford County, Virginia’s rivers, streams, and creeks. This project will engage local volunteers in hands-on cleanups during the peak summer months. Their goal is to host at least one organized cleanup event per month from June through September 2025, empowering community members to take direct action to protect waterways.
The Trash-Free Waters Summer Challenge will remove hundreds of pounds of trash and debris, preventing plastics, metals, and other pollutants from entering sensitive ecosystems. Beyond immediate impact, the program will raise awareness about litter prevention, conservation, and personal responsibility in protecting water resources.
Funds awarded by the Green Grant will be used to purchase durable safety equipment, cleanup tools, signage, and to help acquire a trailer to safely transport supplies to multiple cleanup sites. Having a dedicated trailer will allow Waterway Cleanups to increase its community cleanup requests and manage events more effectively.