By DAN TELVOCK

With nonprofit groups possibly taking a big funding hit from cash-strapped local governments, Spotsylvania County's Litter-a-Thon program couldn't have come at a better time.

Clara Mills, an environmental coordinator for the county, said this is the 13th year she has helped organize the event.

Any nonprofit group in the county can participate. The event is not open to anyone not affiliated with a nonprofit.

Each bag packed with litter from the roadways and neighborhoods in Spotsylvania County is worth $4.

Mills said she tries to get groups to spread out the litter gathering to all of the seven voting districts in the county. The event is held every Saturday in April.

"It is very successful," she said. "There are hundreds of bags that get picked up, and it is kind of a win-win because the nonprofit groups get a chance to make money while they remove litter."

The money paid to the groups comes from a litter prevention and recycling grant. Mills estimated that about $2,000 is needed each year, which equates to 500 bags of trash.

She said the county's two employees who work in litter control pick up the bags of litter to verify the groups' reporting. The following week the groups get checks.

Mills said the Boy Scouts and the Belmont Ruritan Club are regulars to the program and do quite well.

"The good thing is the groups come back every year to participate, and they usually call me before I get [the program] out," Mills said.

Group leaders interested in picking up litter from Spotsylvania County roadsides can call Clara Mills at 540/507-7709 or e-mail cmills@spotsylvania.va.us

Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
Email: dtelvock@freelancestar.com