Local Companies, Volunteers Clean Up Druid Hills Middle, Creek

Employees of Georgia EMC, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. joined forces with several other partner organizations Sep. 10 at to beautify the school’s outdoor areas and clean up the banks and surrounding areas of Burnt Fork Creek.

As part of the Hands on Atlanta/Rivers Alive waterway cleanup initiative, about 350 volunteers cleaned and landscaped school grounds and worked along the creek bed that runs behind the school.

“We’re proud of the partnership between our family of companies and the students, parents, staff and faculty of Druid Hills Middle School,” said one of this year’s project coordinators Carolyn Pait of Oglethorpe Power Corp.

Participants were instrumental in helping Rivers Alive achieve its mission of helping to protect waterways in the state including streams, rivers, lakes, beaches and wetlands and create involvement in the preservation of Georgia's water resources. The group collected and removed nearly 320 pounds of trash and cleared and trimmed 2,000 yards of trails.

According to Georgia Transmission Corp. CEO Mike Smith, participation has continued to grow since the effort began in 2006.

“We are so pleased with the number of participants this year,” he said. “Working with a group of this size and caliber allows us to continue important work. The clean-up and removal of trash from Georgia’s waterways is important for cosmetic reasons, but it also serves a greater purpose because litter can be harmful to wildlife and human health.”

As such, volunteers rid the area and creek bed of discarded items ranging from metal roofing to chicken wire to car tires and plastic bags.

They also built picnic tables and set up an outdoor class room at the banks of the creek to allow the school’s science teachers and Environmental Club to hold classes near the creek and forest.

For information on additional community involvement and service projects, visit www.georgiaemc.com, www.opc.com, www.gatrans.com and www.gasoc.com.

For more information on Rivers Alive, visit www.riversalive.com.