Members of the Gamma Sigma Chapter and Pine Bluff Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated along with members of Kappa League, joined together Saturday to clean for a cause as part of the organization’s new initiative— Kappa Kleans. More than 20 members walked McFadden Road west of the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex with garbage bags in hand to rid city streets, ditches, and thoroughfares of unsightly trash.
“It’s imperative for the health of the environment and our community that we do our best to stop the illegal pollution of our community,” said Lafayette Woods, Jr., Pine Bluff Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi vice- polemarch and Jefferson County Sheriff. “It’s illegal to throw litter in your yard, streets, or in public places. So, please use trash cans or recycling totes.”
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office decided to partner with members of Kappa Alpha Psi and Kappa League to aid in its effort to keep Pine Bluff beautiful.
“As the Chapter Advisor of the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., it was a pleasure for young men to participate with the collaborative and community effort of Kappa Kleans,” said Ray Walker.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in collaboration with the Pine Bluff Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the City of Pine Bluff will offer ongoing liter pickup events throughout the year.
“Tourists and businesses are attracted to clean and beautiful cities with people who care about where they live. Attracting tourism and new businesses is important to the local community, creating more employment opportunities and higher-paying jobs.”
Despite weather conditions, the young men and mentors collected nearly two dozen bags, weighing a total of approximately 440 lbs, and removing junk from main streets where oftentimes furniture and other household items have been discarded. Woods encourages residents to “respect future generations” and insists that if that doesn’t happen, nature’s beauty will get “destroyed” thus robbing future generations of the “opportunity to experience the natural world” that people enjoy now.
For more information on how to assist with “Kappa Kleans” or to report trash in the area, visit www.jeffcoso.org.
