Residents walk the streets with trash bags in hand as they fill a dumpster Saturday during the first half of the annual Riverpalooza event put on by the Apalachicola Riverkeeper. Amanda James, the outreach and advocacy director for the Riverkeeper, says getting the community involved should be a priority for everyone.
"We live in this community. We gotta come together to help save our resources," James says. "The river needs our help in more ways than one and cleaning up trash is one of the easiest ways we can all get involved."
Apalachicola residents began picking up trash at 8 a.m. up and down the river and in local parks. They found wrappers, tires and even a used toilet.
James says that the team was able to collect 1,180 pounds of trash out of the river. With the cleanup ending at noon, the residents turned to the Apalachicola Yacht Club to celebrate and raise $5,000. Festivities included live music, socializing and even a dunk tank featuring local high school faculty and staff.
Funds collected from the event will go to conservation efforts from the riverkeeper up and down the river and into the bay
