An estimated 350-400 volunteers from Tellico Village, Rarity Bay, Vonore, Greenback and Sequoyah High School helped Saturday with the Watershed Association of the Tellico Reservoir’s annual cleanup.
Bill Webster, committee chairman, worked with four other members who serve as captains to find 30 volunteers each to help pick up trash at more than 50 sites.
“I’ve actually had this particular job responsibility for the past eight years,” Webster said. “The reason that most people participate is that most people live in or around the area. They are proud of the lake. They may use it for recreation, fishing or just look at it. They want a clean lake. They clean up the debris that might come into the lake.”
Volunteers pick up an assortment of items including tires, small motors and automobile parts.
“When we see them, we pick them up and dispose of them properly,” he said.
Most volunteers arrive 8:30-9 a.m. and stay until noon to help, Webster said.
“If it weren’t for the volunteers, it could really be an eyesore,” he said. “... The really, really good part is having the kids from Greenback and Sequoyah help. It’s also an ongoing education. Hopefully, we will work ourselves out of this one of these days. It would not be clean without us.”
Tellico Village resident Rose Howard serves as a captain as well because she enjoys volunteering.
“It’s a good thing to keep the shoreline clean and safe,” she said.
Captains are assigned different areas to coordinate after a date is set for the annual cleanup.
“Right now, I have four different areas I am responsible for to clean up trash,” she said. “I organize and pass out the assignments.”
Members from different clubs, including the Ford Club, the Kiwanis Club of Tellico Village, the Soggy Bottom Kayakers Club and the Tellico Riders Motorcycle Club, help each year.
“... Some areas are bigger than others,” Howard said. “If everyone shows up that signed up, I’ve got about 24 people that are going to help. I’ll divide that up into four areas.”
Volunteers receive gloves, grabbers and trash bags to help in their assigned areas.
“It’s been going on for several years,” Howard said. “It’s pretty organized. It gets better and better as far as organization goes.”
The cleanup is generally organized during the last weekend of March, Webster said.
“This time of year, it’s warm enough to get out and cool enough to enjoy it so people can access the debris or trash,” Webster said.
“It’s a group community effort,” he added. “It’s all volunteers. No one gets paid. We have 350-400 volunteers every year. It’s a great process.”
