LAPLACE — St. John the Baptist Parish residents can kick-off Spring cleaning this weekend by organizing home offices with H&R Block and taking part in community beautification efforts.

Local elected officials, leaders and volunteers are meeting from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Friday at the River Region Chamber of Commerce in honor of Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s annual Leaders Against Litter event.

Leaders will sign a pledge board and pick up litter during a half-mile walk to the Percy Hebert building.

Taking a stand against litter promotes community improvement and makes the region more welcoming to those visiting or relocating to the area, according to Keep St. John Beautiful Committee Chairman Greg “Za” Maurin.

“The leaders in the community are the ones who make decisions that affect everyone,” Maurin said. “When they sit down and make a budget, we want them to always have beautification on the table.”

Leaders are not limited to officials but can also include businesses, civic organizations, Boys and Girls Scout troops and volunteers, according to Maurin.

He said leaders from all avenues leave their mark on St. John Parish by fostering communication.

Volunteers can turn out for the larger Spring Clean Sweep April 21 at Thomas F. Daley Memorial Park in LaPlace.

After taking a stand against litter on Friday, residents can discard old, confidential documents at H & R Block’s free community shred event, held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at 232 Belle Terre Blvd., Suite C.

Not all identity theft happens online, and attackers have been known to sift through trash and recycling bins to uncover personal information and file fraudulent tax returns, according to H&R Block Franchisee Olive Druin.

She said the event is an opportunity for customers to learn what financial documents should be kept and which should be discarded.

Records of business income and expenses, property sales that resulted in net-operating or capital losses and records of household improvements that establish basis in a home should be kept indefinitely, according to an H&R Block news release.

Three years is a sufficient amount of time to hold onto documents such as bank statements, printed paystubs, utility bills, brokerage statements, medical and dental expense receipts, mortgage statements, retirement savings reports and other tax information documents.

Those who did not use H&R Block for 2014-2016 tax preparation can bring old returns to the event, and tax professionals will be on hand to conduct a free second look review for accuracy in tax credits and deductions, according to Druin.

For more information about the shred event or to schedule a tax filing appointment, call 985-652-5310.