Mobile County Gov: $10,000 In Grants Awarded To Love Your Community Teams For Service Hours

Mobile AL

13 September, 2022

8:28 PM

Description

Press release from the Mobile County Government: September 12, 2022 MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. -- $10,000 in grants to eight Love Your Community teams were presented at the Mobile County Commission meeting on Sept. 12, 2022. [see teams and projects below] Commissioner Connie Hudson, who spearheaded the Love Your Community effort said, "these teams are truly making a difference in beautifying Mobile County and keeping litter out of our community and waterways. Their efforts are greatly appreciated!" Commissioner Connie Hudson, who spearheaded the Love Your Community effort said, "these teams are truly making a difference in beautifying Mobile County and keeping litter out of our community and waterways. Their efforts are greatly appreciated!" are currently participating in the Love Your Community Time Bank, according to the program coordinator, Evelyn DeAngelo. Grants earned through time-banking volunteer activity must be used for beautification projects in public rights-of-way or common areas for recycling, community gardens, park projects, and other environmentally friendly project ideas. The Love Your Community (LYC) program is funded by Mobile County Commission, operated through a partnership with Keep Mobile Beautiful, and engaged with the Alabama Coastal Heritage Trust and Clean Water Future. LYC was first established in 2018 as a program to encourage citizen involvement in addressing the overwhelming litter problems within our community and to promote a cleaner, healthier and more attractive environment. Over 65 LYC teams with more than 600 volunteers became involved in the effort pre-pandemic. COVID-19 impacted participation and the program was relaunched on April 22, 2021, with a time-banking incentive program for teams to earn thousands of dollars in grant funding. The program allows Love Your Community registered teams, which may be comprised of one to 50 or more members, to select a location(s) within Mobile County to monitor, organize and schedule ongoing clean-up activities as determined by each team. Clean-up supplies including litter grabbers, T-shirts, vests, gloves and disposable trash bags are provided to participating teams upon request. Registered teams that choose to participate in the time-banking initiative deposit their volunteer hours by submitting the required information and photos, either through www.loveyourcommunity.com or by mail to the LYC Coordinator. Eligible activities for time banking include litter pick up and disposal, community clean-up efforts, volunteering at recycling centers, or hosting recycling events and beautification projects. Volunteer hours are held in the Love Your Community Time Bank and continue to accumulate until requirements allow deposits to be exchanged for grant funding. For the LYC and time-banking program descriptions and information, team registration and frequently asked questions visit www.LoveYourCommunity.com, call 251-444-7144, or email [email protected]. Funding for the program is provided in part by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA). This press release was produced by the Mobile County Government. The views expressed here are the author's own.