Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Planter’s Club was home to Keep Suffolk Beautiful’s inaugural Volunteer Appreciation Evening on April 21.

While the organization regularly looks outward for ways to beautify and clean the community, it took this chance to look inward at the reason it thrives – its volunteers.

In the past 10 months, over 1,000 individuals and Adopt Program volunteer groups have donated 2,270 hours, collecting 1,125 bags of trash and 89 tires, totaling 29,564 pounds of trash – which equates to nearly 15 tons.

All participating groups and individuals were announced and given certificates of appreciation for their hard work and dedication.

Marion and Bettye Walton were specially honored for their “unrelenting efforts” that keep their adopted stretch of Jackson Road one of the cleanest roadways in Suffolk.

Wayne Jones, Public Works community outreach coordinator, took a moment to specifically highlight active friends of the program such as the Suffolk Police Department, Suffolk Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Department, the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney and the Nansemond River Preservation Alliance. He also praised the “tireless support” from the Nansemond-Suffolk Izaak Walton League with roadside and river cleanups.

Tim Doxey, Izaak Walton member, was presented with a trophy for his leadership in establishing regular Nansemond River cleanups.

Suffolk Mayor Mike Duman, the keynote speaker, noted the high value of Suffolk’s volunteer base and strength in its diversity.

Council member Shelley Butler Barlow said it was “my great pleasure to enjoy great food and fellowship at the first annual Keep Suffolk Beautiful volunteer appreciation event.”

“The Planter’s Club was a beautiful setting to highlight all the ways this group of dedicated volunteers serves and beautifies our city, and the ‘low-waste’ banquet was a great reminder to reduce, reuse and recycle,” she said.

Vice Mayor Leroy Bennett also attended.

Keep Suffolk Beautiful, committed to mitigating waste, gifted guests with reusable silverware and bottles for use during the event, which Downtown Suffolk restaurant El Korita catered.

Those interested in joining the Adopt Program or organizing their own cleanup in Suffolk can contact Daniel McDonald, litter control coordinator, at  dmcdonald@suffolkva.us or 757-514-7604. More information can be found at suffolkva.us/316/Litter-Control, or by following Keep Suffolk Beautiful on Facebook and Instagram.