By Nicole Woods
Fort Belvoir Public Affairs Office
Thursday, April 12, 2012

The Fort Belvoir Public Affairs Office seeks volunteers to support the Annual the Fort Belvoir-Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce, Route 1 Cleanup, April 21 from 8 a.m. to noon.

This event is a great opportunity for members of the community to lend a hand to improve the quality of their community and environment.

It also serves as an observance of the 42nd Annual Earth Day celebration, April22. This year’s Earth Day theme is “Mobilize the Earth”, where people around the world are coming together to demand change and show their appreciation for the planet by attending a local Earth Day event. Together we can do our part to help clean the environment and create a sustainable future, according to the Earth Day website.

Volunteers will pick up the trash and debris along the portion of Richmond Highway that is adjacent to Fort Belvoir, in partnership with the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce. Specific areas of concentration will be along the North corridor of Richmond Highway to Mount Vernon Road, ending at Walker gate, and along the South corridor to Old Colchester Road.

All volunteers need to meet at the Community Center at 7:30 a.m. to register, before spreading out along Richmond highway and around the installation gates.

Transportation from the start point to cleanup areas will be provided, along with reflector vests and trash bags. Participants are reminded to dress appropriately for weather and you will need to bring a good pair of working gloves. Refreshments will be provided by the Chamber.

As a safety precaution, children ages 12-17 must be accompanied by a parent.

People wishing to volunteer should call (703)-805-2511 no later than April 19.

The clean-up will only be cancelled in the event of thunder and lightning. For details regarding cancellation, call (703) 805-3030.

For more information, call Cynthia Stringfield, (703) 805-2395, or Nicole Woods, (703)-805-5001.