Volunteers team up for river clean up
This past Friday and Saturday, the community came together once again for the annual Swain Clean River Cleanup—and what a success it was.
Gina Wiggins, a dedicated river and lake advocate, helped lead this effort alongside an incredible team of volunteers, local businesses, and organizations. With support and approval from multiple agencies and local governments, this large-scale cleanup was made possible through true community teamwork.
Two days of work
On Friday, volunteers worked on foot throughout the day, collecting trash and debris. Saturday the heavy equipment moved in to handle large trees and wood debris, stacking them into 10x10 piles for controlled burns. Over 8 monitored fires burned for nearly 24 hours, clearing out large amounts of debris before it could reach the lake.
Volunteers also filled two overflowing dumpsters with trash.
The area wasn’t as heavily impacted as last year, but thanks to everyone’s hard work, it is now cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable for all.
Special thanks to local businesses and volunteers who made Swain Clean a success.
Want to get involved?
Swain Clean meets once a month for local cleanups, and everyone is welcome to join.
They also provide equipment if individuals or groups would like to organize their own cleanup. Everything you need is available—Swain Clean just needs your helping hands.
Check out the Swain Clean Facebook page for more information, upcoming events, and details on how to get involved.
Swain Clean is co-chaired by Tom Womble and Nick Nickels. Cynthia Womble is the media, public relations contact.