Special to the Times Vedette
Keep Iowa Beautiful invites Iowans to join the Great American Cleanup and an estimated 3 million volunteers across the nation by removing litter from public spaces during Pick-Up Iowa from March 11 through July 31.
Pick-Up Iowa, a Keep Iowa Beautiful program, creates focused efforts to clean up trash along Iowa’s roadsides, neighborhoods, streets, school grounds, parks, forests and streams. In 2022 and 2023, Pick-Up Iowa saw 48 pick-up events across the state, totaling 7,000-plus volunteer hours and resulting in 3,000-plus trash bags of litter and debris collected.
Pick-Up Iowa’s reimbursement program will continue this year after a successful launch in 2023. The first 35 communities who sign up for Pick-Up Iowa will be eligible for a $50 reimbursement for purchases made to aid their pick-up event. Qualifying purchases may include trash bags, gloves, litter grabbers, or food and beverages for volunteers.
“I am continually impressed by the dedication and care Iowans invest in ensuring their communities thrive both physically and economically,” said Andy Frantz, executive director of Keep Iowa Beautiful. “We are thrilled to sustain the partnership between Pick-Up Iowa and the Great American Cleanup, empowering Iowans to take action in reducing litter in their towns.”
Community members or groups are invited to participate. Organizations that often host clean up events include civic associations, schools, church groups, local sports teams, college clubs, groups of families and friends, businesses, Scouts and others. City municipalities are also involved in Pick-Up Iowa.
Sign-up now at