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How you can keep Lakeland beautiful

Meet two organizations working to keep Lakeland and Polk County’s streets and waterways clean.

Three volunteers with long nets stand on a lake shore, cleaning litter.

You may get dirty, but Lakeland will stay clean.

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With Earth Day coming up, you may be wondering how to keep our little corner of the world clean. It takes coordination, passion, and volunteers willing to help. Here’s how you can join Keep Lakeland Beautiful, Inc. and Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc., two organizations working to keep our city a beautiful place to live.

Volunteer

Last year, Keep Lakeland Beautiful collected 3,000+ pounds of litter. This nonprofit organization couldn’t achieve its goals without the help of volunteers. Donate your time and talents at an upcoming cleanup event.

Keep Lakeland Beautiful’s next cleanup will take place Saturday, May 20. The location is TBA, but recent cleanups covered Lake Parker and Harden Boulevard. If you know of a spot in need of a cleaning, complete the Cleanup Submission Form to suggest it for the next event.

Want to make an even wider impact? You can also volunteer beyond Lakeland with Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. This organization can help your club or group host a cleanup event, providing cleaning supplies or even kayaks for waterway cleanings.

Two cleanup volunteers pose with a bright orange road sign that reads "Volunteer Workers Ahead, Keep Polk County Beautiful."

These volunteers hosted their own cleanup in Lake Wales.

Adopt a Road

Take charge of a certain street by adopting a road. Keep Polk County Beautiful requires groups to clean a one-mile stretch of road at least eight times per year for two years. Keep Lakeland Beautiful also offers a similar program — reach out via email to learn more.

Monetary donations are also a great way to get involved if you can’t take part in a cleanup yourself. Click here to give online to Keep Lakeland Beautiful, or click here to donate to Keep Polk County Beautiful before its Annual Fundraiser and Awards. This event takes place Saturday, April 22 at 2905 E. Central Ave., Bartow — nominate a person or organization who keeps Polk clean.

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