Keep McAllen Beautiful is once again hosting their annual Great American Clean-Up and Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off on April 15. The event kicks off at 8:30 a.m. at McAllen Municipal Park, 1921 N Bicentennial Blvd., and ends at noon. Residents are invited to get cleaning shoes on and join KMB to traverse the city’s major streets, hike and bike trails, city parks and schools, all to help keep McAllen clean and looking beautiful.

Keep McAllen Beautiful encourages everyone to participate. Volunteers come from all walks of life such as students, business leaders, civic and non-profit organizations, individuals, families, community and religious groups, sororities, fraternities, sports teams and the military. Volunteers who participate will be issued safety vests, gloves, trash bags and a free t-shirt. They will then receive assignments to designated areas to pick up litter.

This year, organizers also encourage volunteers to transport themselves to their areas. Once volunteers complete their clean-up and return to the park, they will receive hot dogs, soda and various raffle prizes. This year’s post clean-up entertainment at the park features dancers from Seguin Elementary in La Joya, the Konitsaa Nde Kontisaa Nde Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas Native American Dancers, and the McAllen Independent School District Alvarez Elementary School Drumline.

Organizers state this is a great opportunity for anyone desiring community service hours to participate, do something meaningful and get credit for it.

“We are asking the public to register and volunteer and join in this beatification effort. In addition, we are requesting that drivers be extra cautious and look-out for volunteers who will be busy cleaning our streets throughout the entire city on that day,” stated Chris Lash, KMB program coordinator.

To register, visit keepmcallenbeautiful.org or call 956-681-4562 for more details.

About Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off

The Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off is the single largest one-day clean-up event in the state and serves as Texas’s signature event for the Great American Clean-Up, the nation’s largest community improvement program implemented by Keep America Beautiful. The Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off is part of Texas Department of Transportation’s litter prevention program, which includes Don’t Mess with Texas, Adopt-a-Highway, and a grassroots partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful.