The Georgetown South Community Council is teaming up with local charity organizations and residents for the first-ever “Your Pride Outside Day" community clean-up event. 

Georgetown South Community Manager Meg Carroll said there are many vacant, blighted properties in the community that need to be cleaned up, as well as many residents who have requested assistance.

"The object is residents and volunteers will work together to clean up the exterior appearance of Georgetown South from the inside out," Carroll said. "We will have the capability to get rid of more than 60 tons of trash that weekend that doesn't belong in the neighborhood."

In addition to the vacant/blight properties, community members and residents will be tackling the 22 grass-covered common areas, as well as helping with the homes of those who require assistance due to special needs, so they are seeking help from volunteers.

"The help of volunteers will be particularly critical for homes whose owners have requested assistance because of a special need and for the properties left vacant and blighted due to foreclosure," Carroll said. "We would ask that you and/or your organization consider joining us in making this the most successful event every."

Volunteers will be assigned to teams and deployed to homes where there's a need for assistance. Volunteers are still needed for the event, which will take place Saturday, April 28 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you or your organization is initerested in participating, please contact Meg Carroll at mcarroll@gtownsouth.com or 703-229-6133.

Residents and volunteers will have access to free household items to help with their efforts, including access to hazardous waste collection, exterior paint, top soil, and mulch, among other things.

There will also be 13 accessible trash dumpster sites to assist with the clean up effort.

Residents of Georgetown South will also have the opportunity to give away or sell items they no longer use. Those choosing to sell will benefit from  a community yard sale, which will be held in the area of the pavilion on Taney Road from 8 am to 1 pm, also on the 28th.

Georgetown South residents choosing to give away items and help others will have access to 14 different donation areas with collection bins for the organizations listed below:

• Soles4Souls will be accepting old, new, no longer wanted shoes. This charity then distributes these shoes to people in need in over 127 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States.
  

• Lions Club International will be accepting used eyeglasses and hearing aids. The Lions Club collects millions of eyeglasses each year to address the worldwide need for glasses.
  

• Community Thrift will be accepting clothes, household items, books, and furniture donations. 
  

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore will be accepting donations of new and gently-used building materials and household goods. It sells those items to the public at a fraction of the retail price and uses the proceeds to achieve Habitat’s mission to build homes, communities, and hope.

• National Coalition against Domestic Violence (NCADV) will partner with ReCellular, Inc. for the collection of used cell phones. They receive a portion of the monies that come from the sale of refurbished cell phones to support programming that helps stop violence in the home.

• Georgetown South Community Council is accepting donations of old tires to be refurbished and made into tire swings for the play areas throughout the community.

Finally, the “Your Pride Outside” event will offer a Community Health Fair sponsored by Community Care Pediatrics, a pediatric clinic located in the Georgetown South Center. Local businesses and organizations will be on hand to provide residents with information regarding their health and safety.

Residents interested in participating  should call Georgetown South Community Council’s office at 703-361-4500 or Meg Carroll.

The event is open to everyone.