Want to get outside on a Friday while feeling good about volunteering? Save the date for Friday, Sept. 6, when the Smith Lake Environmental Preservation Committee and Alabama Power will welcome your help at the Renew Our Rivers/SLEPC Smith Lake Cleanup.

The daytime outing aims to keep the lakefront clean with trash pickup help from any and all volunteers. You don’t have to be an SLEPC member to help out, and many area employers offer paid time off for volunteer work that benefits a community service project.

Volunteers and organizers will meet at 8 a.m. on Sept. 6 at at the Smith Lake Park boat launch to sign in and review safety guidelines for the day. From there, the cleanup will load onto boats and set out to target areas of Simpson Creek and Ryan Creek from Smith Lake Park to Big Bridge. Alabama Power will provide a free lunch for all volunteers, who will also receive a free SLEPC Renew Our Rivers Cleanup T-shirt at the end of the event.

Organizers ask that volunteers register online (visit eventbrite.com/e/slepc-smith-lake-cleanup-fall-2024-tickets-993998214417) before Tuesday, Sept. 3 to streamline their headcount plans for the free lunch. On the day of the event, be sure to wear clothing and shoes appropriate for picking up trash (long pants, sturdy shoes/boots) and come prepared for a day in the summer sun with sunscreen and insect repellent.

For more information about the Smith Lake Environmental Preservation Committee, visit the nonprofit’s website at slepc.org.