LAPLACE — Keep St. John Beautiful representative Greg “Za” Maurin said his favorite aspect of the annual Spring Clean Sweep is the renewed sense of responsibility for their communities that volunteers leave with.

“When you ride in your car, you really don’t realize how much litter there is embedded in the grass,” Maurin said. “It gives people a personal awareness that there is a problem and reinforces their behavior patterns.”

High school youth groups, civic organizations, churches, agencies and residents invested in community improvement are invited to turn out for the parish-wide Spring Clean Sweep on Saturday and earn service hours.

Volunteers will meet at 8:30 a.m. to pick up cleaning supplies and free T-shirts at Thomas F. Daley Memorial Park on U.S. 51 in LaPlace near the library.

Between 9 and 11:30 a.m. volunteers will branch out to clean areas throughout St. John the Baptist Parish before reconvening at the park for music, jambalaya and other refreshments.

The Spring Clean Sweep attracts up to 300 volunteers annually, and 40th Judicial District Division C Judge J. Sterling Snowdy said it’s a small time obligation for something that makes a large impact.

Maurin said the goal is to create a community cognizant of litter so there will eventually be less to pick up.

“Yes, we’re out there to pick up, but the aspect of the event I really like is the awareness all volunteers gain, because that’s what’s going to carry on,” Maurin said.

Preregistration is recommended but not required. Sign up forms are available at sjbparish.com/cleanup_form.php.

For more information, call 985-652-9569.