Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful awarded $55,000 total in grants from the Georgia Beverage Association and Macon-Bibb County
“We do more than just pick up litter,” said Asha Ellen, Executive Director for Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful. “We are picking up an entire community and with these funds we will be able to invest in not only our youth, but also in the neighborhoods, in the communities in which they live."
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – At the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Macon, Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful received not one but two grants totaling $55,000.
The first grant of $25,000 was awarded by the Georgia Beverage Association with support from the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation as a part of its Made to be Remade initiative to be used for recycling initiatives and education along with Bibb County Sheriff’s Office in the 31206 zip-code which includes multiple schools, such as Bruce and Southfield Elementary and after school programs at Bloomfield-Gilead Recreation Center and other neighborhood watch organizations.
Asha Ellen, Executive Director for Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful, says they came to the decision to focus on that area, as according to Ryland Environmental, it has the most need when it comes to recycling and waste reduction.
“The beverage industry remains dedicated to advancing recycling education and reinforcing the value of our 100% recyclable cans and bottles,” said Kevin Perry, President & CEO of Georgia Beverage Association. “Our goal is to ensure that these containers are collected and remade into new beverage packaging rather than becoming waste in our landfills and our streams, our waterways or on roadsides.”
(Photo Credit: Godfrey Hall/41NBC)
The second grant of $30,000 was awarded by Macon-Bibb County and will also be used for multiple schools in District 8, such as Southwest High, Ballard-Hudson Middle, Matilda Hartley, Ingram/Pye, and Southfield Elementary to support litter reduction and beautification initiatives as a part of the Walking School Bus.
“Studies show that children living in areas with high amounts of litter and blight experience higher rates of anxiety and depression,” said Ellen.
“Realizing that someone cares about you when you walk through a community and grass is eight feet high,” said Virgil Watkins, Former District 8 Commissioner for Macon-Bibb County. “It feels like people don’t care about their area, so I love this idea of the Walking School Bus tour, us in the community, thinking about those little things.”
“We do more than just pick up litter,” said Ellen. “We are picking up an entire community and with these funds we will be able to invest in not only our youth, but also in the neighborhoods, in the communities in which they live.”
