Staff Report

An annual cleanup event that has seen more than 2,000 bags of litter picked up from the Homer area is scheduled for the third week of April. 

Homer Wilderness Leaders’ DiRtBaG cleanup week has been scheduled each April as snow melts and reveals trash that has been left behind. 

Last year, nearly 70 kids picked up 312 bags of litter in Homer. The goal for this year is to beat that total, according to a media release from HoWL. Youth who want to participate meet at Bishops Beach green and then teams are sent to litter locations. 

There are two after-school meet times to accommodate local meet schedules: 3:30-5:30 and 4:15-30 Monday through Friday. Snacks, gloves, safety vets and DiRtBaG t-shirts are provided for everyone who participates. 

Local youth, ages 8-18 years old can sign up to participate, while everyone else can sign up to sponsor and support the cleanup. When pledge funds are submitted to HoWl after the cleanup week, a scholarship of equal amount is applied toward the cost of one of the organization’s programs. 

The organization is also looking for volunteers to help supervise, drive crews, provide snacks and help with a party at the week’s end. 

The litter cleanup will be held from April 20-25; a celebration and awards party will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. 

Learn more and sign-up at howlalaska.org.