KKB seeks volunteers for cleanup

Calling all volunteers.

Keep Kimball Beautiful is sponsoring a litter pickup day April 11 to coincide with the Great American Cleanup campaign.

Local efforts will kick off from the Kimball-Banner County Chamber of Commerce at 8 a.m. and is expected to last at least a couple of hours, according to Keep Kimball Beautiful director Larissa Binod. That will depend on the number of volunteers present.

“One year we had 35, another we had 50 and one year we had to cancel it altogether,” Binod said. “I would really like to reach 50 volunteers again.”

Teams of four have been found to be effective for the annual event and those who come as singles will be matched up with teams.

“The more teams we have, the more impact we have,” Binod added.

Board members and volunteers canvas the city and surrounding areas throughout the year and rate, from one to four, which areas are highest need.

“We are fairly aware of where there is a need,” Binod said.

Keep Kimball Beautiful has 24 “grabbers” for volunteers to use, but helpers are encouraged to bring gloves as well as protective clothing and water.

As far as inspiring a healthy local competition, Binod said she has had difficulty declaring one team a winner over another.

In addition to cleanup efforts, a work session is planned for the afternoon at the lot left vacant when the Corner Bar burned down.

Plans for the space have long included a mural painted on the south-facing wall of the Kimball Bakery, and though Binod cannot guarantee that will be completed, steps will certainly be taken to beautify the area in the afternoon.