Keep Midland Beautiful Needs Help With "Love the Loop" Clean-up
By: Katiera Winfrey
Updated: December 9, 2012
"We would like to see it cleaned up prior to the holidays, that way our guests that come into the city won't' think we live like this," said Caleb Combs with Keep Midland Beautiful.
The KMB offices have been getting multiple calls from community members complaining about the trash on the loop. Just this October Keep Midland Beautiful finished their last scheduled community clean up. However with recent mowing in the grassy areas, things have gotten worse.
"TxDot came around a mowed which we're thankful for but what happened was a little bit of litter turned into a whole lot of litter."
To clean up all the litter, a lot of help is needed. Tom Cooper is part of R.O.P.E.
"This was suggested to us by Keep Midland Beautiful. They gave us this area as a place that needed to have trash pickup," said Cooper.
R.O.P.E is a sub-group of the Boy Scouts that provide an alternative program for non-violent juvenile offenders instead of jail time.
Cooper said, "I think this is good for the boys, it's a couple of em' because um, they can see trash and hopefully that will build in them a desire not to be the person that throws trash out the window."
While this is a younger group working to make a difference along the loop, KMB is mainly looking for adults and other mature community groups to help with the clean-up.
"It's problematic in that the loop is not kid friendly, it's not safe for kiddos to clean," said Combs.
The Midland Police Department is helping with traffic control to ensure volunteers are safe.
"Our citizens are upset so keep midland beautiful is out here to tell our citizens we hear you so let's do something about it."
Love the Loop clean-up is set to run until New Year's Day. If you're interested in helping out, Keep Midland Beautiful will supply plastic bags, gloves and reflective vest.
To sign up to volunteer to clean up, call Keep Midland Beautiful at 432-687-7400.
