GRAMERCY — In an effort to educate and involve community leaders in the fight against litter in Louisiana, Keep Louisiana Beautiful and 29 affiliates including Keep St. James Parish Beautiful participated in a statewide litter-a-thon Friday, which ended with a press conference in Baton Rouge announcing the results.

Forty-five bags of trash were collected by more than 50 community leaders at the third annual “Leaders Against Litter” event, hosted by Keep St. James Parish Beautiful.

Local government officials, business and community leaders, including Parish President Timmy Roussel, Sheriff Willy Martin, Jr., Judge Jude Gravios, School Board Member Kenneth “Wop” Foret, Gramercy Alderman Betty Cooper Coleman, Lion’s Club members and YouthBuild participants joined Keep St. James Parish Beautiful across the one-mile route in Gramercy along Louisiana 3213 between U.S. 61 and Veterans Memorial Bridge, collecting litter to beautify the area in support of St. James Parish and volunteerism.

Leaders used litter grabbers and wore matching event T-shirts as part of the team to “lead the way to a cleaner Louisiana.”

The leaders then collectively signed a Leaders Against Litter pledge confirming their commitment to SPEAK UP and spread the word that litter is not acceptable, to PICK UP litter whenever they see it and to STAND UP and lead the way for a litter-free Louisiana.

The pledge board is now a traveling display appearing at different locations in which other leaders and residents can sign the pledge, engaging even more individuals and extending the impact of Leaders Against Litter.

The Leaders Against Litter events kicked off the Great American Cleanup held in March, April and May.

Members of the community can become involved by contacting Keep St. James Parish Beautiful at 225-562-2523.