Event is part of Montgomery County’s Broomin’ and Bloomin’
Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Alleghany Springs Road Clean-up in Shawsville is an early participant in Montgomery County’s 41st annual Broomin and Bloomin event.
Organizer and long-time Shawsville resident, Billy Rakes, began organizing an early event to clean up the Alleghany Springs Road area four years ago.
“I always try to do it on the first Saturday, before the weeds and things start to grow,” Rakes said. “The more the people that come out, and if everyone does a little, a lot gets done.”
Alleghany Springs community members and others that want to give their time to the clean-up can come between 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. to Wyatt’s Country Store on Alleghany Springs Road. Volunteers should come by the store and sign in for the event where they are given trash bags and further instructions.
Rakes said that notification signs will be placed at both ends of the road, starting at the entrance of Kirk Hollow Road just past the Floyd Fitness Center and then also where Alleghany Springs meets the Floyd County line, warning drivers that groups will be working to clean up the trash in the community.
New this year, Rakes said, Ballpark Signs in Christiansburg donated informational signs that can be seen along Alleghany Springs Road and at Wyatts Country Store announcing the event.
“That was awesome too, once he found out that we are volunteering to pick up trash,” Rakes said.
In the past, they have collected 55-65 bags on average and hope to cover even more area this year.
“It’s a way for anyone to give something back to the community. If you can’t do anything financially, at least you can give something back in this way,” Rakes said.
Rakes would love to see more groups and individuals come out to clean up not only the Alleghany Springs area, but their own communities as well in connection to the Broomin & Bloomin event. He encourages anyone to organize a group, whether it is friends, family, church groups or other organizations, to preserve the beauty of our communities.
If someone is not sure how to get started, and can’t participate in the April events, you may contact Billy Rakes at bhrakes2058@gmail.com, and he would be happy to provide tips and ideas on how to get a group organized.
“I want to say kudos to the volunteers that come out. The people are what makes this thing happen,” Rakes said.
Wiliam Long, Sustainability Manager with Montgomery County is also a great resource, Rakes said. The Alleghany Springs group gives prior notification to Long and then crews pick up the trash bags and weigh them as part of the total collection for Broomin & Bloomin.
“The event started way back in 1983, this will be the 41st year,” Bill Long said. “Kind of help clean up the County a little bit.”
Broomin & Bloomin will officially happen on Saturday, April 20 this year.
“We traditionally try to do it around Earth Day, which is on April 22,” Long said. The event this year will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. If that Saturday will be rainy, some groups go out early on Friday.”
Even if you don’t have a road in mind, they can help with that. The clean-up crews go out to parks, along creeks and roads, but wherever they choose to work, safety is always important.
“We have a lot of people come forward with already a place in mind and also have people that are open to going wherever and we help them find a place. We work with them to find a place for all parties involved. We do bright neon t-shirts for visibility and get them to them early. We do trash bags and provide the clothes as well. Every year we have some goodies to give folks as well as a thank you for them taking their time out of their day as well to pick up litter,” Long said.
In 2023, thanks to the many participating volunteers donating their time to the county-wide event, volunteers collected 1.3 tons of trash, according to the www.montva.com website.
Registration for participants can be found on the Montgomery County website and has a deadline of April 12 for the 2024 event.
