DOUGLAS, Ga (WALB)- The city of Douglas is joining the Greatest American Cleanup, a nationwide initiative led by Keep America Beautiful. For Douglas, the effort comes at a time when recovery is still ongoing.

Months after Hurricane Helene left behind more than 3 million cubic yards of debris, residents and city leaders are still working to restore what was lost.

“Beyond the physical damage, it disrupted life and scattered all kinds of litter,” said Alyssa Fussell, Executive Director of Keep Douglas Beautiful. “While this year’s cleanup is still about national pride and celebration, it’s a local act of resilience.”

Douglas received a nearly $2,500 grant through Keep Georgia Beautiful, which is helping organizers equip volunteers with gloves, safety vests and cleaning supplies. The city is also an official affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, allowing them to support cleanup efforts year-round.

“Keep Georgia Beautiful actually supplied a grant for us to get critical cleanup supplies,” Fussell said. “Just to ensure our team is equipped and ready to go.”

Volunteers said this initiative is about more than beauty — It’s about how people see their city.

“We want to keep Douglas clean. We want to keep Douglas beautiful,” said volunteer Nayeli Moran. “So with that, we can have more people come visit, come tour and we can have more volunteers for this event that we do yearly.”

The annual cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to noon. Organizers are asking for as many helping hands as possible to show that Douglas is not just recovering — It’s rising stronger than ever.

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