Friends of Keep Charleston Beautiful

Programs

Keep Charleston Beautiful is dedicated to promoting the cleanliness and beautification of the City of Charleston through their educational programs, including Clean City Clara, as well as their hands-on efforts such as Clean Cities Sweep. Keep Charleston Beautiful has over 15 annual programs, all of which are in need of support. For further information on these or other programs, please visit their website at www.charlestoncity.info.

Clean City Clara

Clean City Clara is a pelican mascot who teaches young students about the importance of living a litter-free life. This school-based program is available to all K-2nd graders in Charleston County. Through an interactive presentation, Clara, along with her human friend, teaches children about the impact litter has on our local waterways, something of special concern to Clara, as well as the basics of recycling.

Pick Up After Your Pet

This program provides pet owners the tools to properly pick up their pet’s waste. Dog litter is especially harmful to our environment, often times washing toxins and bacteria into our waterways. Keep Charleston Beautiful partners with the City of Charleston’s Department of Parks to install dog bag dispensers throughout the City’s park system. These bags are fully funded by Keep Charleston Beautiful and Friends of KCB.

Clean Cities Sweep

Clean Cities Sweep is an annual, environmental volunteer program co-sponsored by the Cities of Charleston and North Charleston, and is held in conjunction with Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup. Each year, thousands of volunteers come together to beautify and enhance their local communities. Projects include landscaping public property, including parks, school grounds, and entrances to local neighborhoods; removing litter from vacant lots, roadways, marshes, and local waterways; rehabilitating dilapidated buildings and structures; and providing education to the public on the value of a clean, litter-free environment.

The project is segmented into two categories: one designed specifically for schools and the other tailored for the general community. The school-based program runs from January through April and encourages entire schools to participate in the program. Student groups and classes that participate are provided with resources and information necessary to plan, coordinate and implement their independent projects, and many of them incorporate an educational component into the project. The goal of the program is to have 100% participation among each school in Charleston County.

The community-based program is designed to give volunteers flexibility in performing their project. As with the school-based program, community groups are given the resources and tools necessary to plan, coordinate, and implement their individual project. The hope is that volunteer groups will acquire a since of ownership over the project and therefore, maintain the project for years to come.