Last Saturday, the Hammond Chamber of Commerce sponsored “Clean up the City Day.” The effort to keep Hammond beautiful took full force as volunteers picked up litter. According to Anette Kirylo, Hammond City Council Clerk and KHB volunteer coordinator, sororities and fraternities from Southeastern joined in the cleanup efforts and adopted streets surrounding campus.

“We have Tri Sigma here today,” said Kirylo. “Some of the sororities and fraternities have adopted streets, and what is asked of these groups who adopt streets is four clean ups a year, minimum.”

Volunteers from several different organizations met up at The African American Heritage Museum. Free doughnuts and coffee were offered to volunteers, while supplies such as trash bags and latex gloves were handed out.  The day started at 7 a.m. and ended once the streets were clean. Students from all across the city took part in the event.

“When we have our monthly clean up, we invite everyone to come, and we have all the materials they need,” said Kirylo.

According to Kirylo, other groups involved in the cleanup effort were the Home Depot Group and the Hammond High School Key Club. The Keep Hammond Beautiful group, established in 2008, is an anti-litter and community improvement organization. This is the fifth year in a row that Hammond has been named “Louisiana’s Cleanest City” according to The Daily Star.

“We organize a monthly clean up so that we can try to cover every district of Hammond,” said Kirylo. “This is our third year doing clean ups around the city, and we invite different organizations to come participate.”

People who want to join this event do not need to pay anything.

“It is strictly volunteers who make this event possible,” said Kirylo. “We receive our funds from the city of Hammond, but any support from around the area is always great.”

The city also sponsors other events throughout the year.

“Two times a year, in May and October, we have the household recycling day,” said Kirylo. “This is another way for people to keep their community beautiful.”

The members of the group also travel “to different schools and stress the importance of recycling and not littering,” Kirylo said. It’s a good way to reach out to the community.

 “On a day like today, all of our volunteers sign in and leave an email address so we can contact them in the future, and we also put ads in the newspaper,” said Kirylo.

For more information about the Keep Hammond Beautiful organization, contact Anette Kirylo at [email protected], or visit their Facebook page, Keep Hammond Beautiful.