The Henderson-Vance Spring Litter Sweep Week is being held in conjunction with the state-wide litter sweep week Monday, April 23 through Saturday, April 28.

Terri Hedrick, chair of the Vance County Appearance Committee, was recently on air to encourage all citizens of Vance County to spend time outdoors this week improving the community by cleaning up trash and debris.

“We ask all who are able to participate to please clean up around homes, churches, neighborhoods and local schools,” said Hedrick.

Approximately 35 Adopt-a-Highway programs will be participating throughout the week and mowing is scheduled for many roadways.

Gloves and orange trash bags are available for interested participants throughout the week at the City Operations Center at 900 S. Beckford Drive and at the Vance County School’s Administrative Office at 1724 Graham Avenue in Henderson.

Participants are asked to fill their orange trash bags, tightly secure them and place them by the curb, if in the city, or by the side of the road, if in the county. Maintenance crews should collect the trash bags by next week.

The litter sweep will culminate in the annual Recycling Day at the City Operations Center on Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Volunteers and vendors will be accepting, for free, a variety of recyclables including electronics, cardboard, metal, aluminum cans, plastic, glass, newspapers/magazines and other household recyclables.

Old medications, including prescription, over-the-counter and medical syringes, may also be recycled.

Shredding trucks will also be on site to securely dispose of participants’ personal documents.

Old paints will not be accepted for recycling at this year’s event; however, Hedrick reminds the community that paints that have been dried either by chemical means or by cat litter may be taken to any of the manned trash sites throughout the county.

Starting at 12 p.m., there will be a free hot dog luncheon inside the City Operations Center. Jason Brown and his Wisdom for Life Foundation and Fruit of the Spirit community group will once again be hosting this time for food and fellowship.

Brown, a former NFL player, is the owner of First Fruits Farm in Louisburg and is, according to Hedrick, a big supporter of the community, giving freely of his produce to help feed others.

Cash prizes will also be given away at the luncheon to litter sweep participants who can document they participated in the cleanup process. Participants must be present to win prizes.

Prizes include $150 for most bags of trashed filled by a group, $100 for most people in a group and $50 for the most unique item found.

To be eligible for cash prizes, participants must document how many bags of trash they filled, how many people were in their group and take a picture of their efforts, especially of their most unique item found.

Packets of information regarding litter sweep week and the forms and documentation procedures needed to be eligible for the free lunch and cash prizes are available at the Vance County School’s Administrative Office.

While Hedrick is encouraged by the efforts of the community during this week each year, she says the Appearance Committee would ultimately “like to see people cleaning up all year and stop being litterbugs.”