The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

For the 18th consecutive year, the Orange community is invited to help beautify the streets of the Orange area and the banks of Adams Bayou by picking up litter during the Annual Community Trash-Off. This event, hosted by Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9. Participants are asked to meet at Orange Lions Park, which will serve as headquarters for the Trash-Off.

The Community Trash-Off began in 1995 as an effort to clean Adams Bayou and has expanded to include more than 60 streets throughout Orange, Pinehurst and West Orange. Each year, this program collects thousands of pounds of trash from roadways and waterways. With much of the area ultimately draining directly into Adams Bayou, cleaning the streets helps keep Adams Bayou free of litter as well.

Individuals, organizations, businesses and families are encouraged to sign up a team early for the Trash-Off.

Teams consist of three to five participants and are limited to adults and children age 12 and older.

All teams must be supervised by an adult.

Individuals without a specified team are welcome to show up on the day of the event and will be assigned to a team for the clean-up.

Volunteers may bring their own gloves, however, gloves will be provided at the event, as well as trash grabbers and garbage bags for all volunteers.

Volunteers with small personal boats are also needed to help pick up trash out of Adams Bayou.

Those working along Adams Bayou may receive, if desired, a disposable suit to help stay clean.

After the trash pick-up, all volunteers are invited to regroup at Orange Lions Park and enjoy complimentary pizza and soft drinks for lunch. Prizes donated by local businesses will be awarded to teams for their efforts. If a business or organization would like to make a donation for this event, contact Kaycee Dortch at 409-670-0803 or [email protected]. Items may also be dropped off at the Shangri La Admissions Window.

For more information on participating in the Annual Community Trash-Off, call 409-670-0803 or visit http://www.shangrilagardens.org to download a participation form. Forms may be returned via email to [email protected], via fax at 409-670-9341 or in person at the Admission Window at Shangri La.

Located at 2111 West Park Avenue in Orange, Texas, Shangri La is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about Shangri La, call 409-670-9113 or visit http://www.shangrilagardens.org.

Volunteers will be helping to keep the Orange area clean during the 18th Annual Community Trash-Off on Feb. 9, 2013.