On Wednesday, July 16, Keep Statesboro-Bulloch Beautiful (KSBB) partnered with the Georgia Southern Football Team for a large-scale community cleanup event, Eagles Tackle Trash.
The initiative was sparked when Corbin Gant, Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach for the team, reached out to KSBB wanting to get the student-athletes more involved in service efforts that make a visible difference in the community.
His idea: mobilize the entire football team—all 114 players and 5 coaching staff—for one hour of focused cleanup across the city.
"Uncollected litter is a serious issue across the City of Statesboro and greater Bulloch County. It contributes to urban blight, harms wildlife, pollutes waterways, and even creates hazards for motorists when debris blows into roadways. From highways and dirt roads to neighborhoods and busy thoroughfares, litter is both an environmental concern and a quality-of-life issue. Some of it is clearly the result of careless littering from passing motorists," explains Keep Statesboro-Bulloch Beautiful's coordinator, Timeka Shannon.
After Gant reached out expressing an interest in getting the players involved in a community service initiative, Shannon served as the event organizer, working closely with the City of Statesboro Public Works & Engineering Department and Coach Gant to ensure everything ran smoothly.
The cleanup kicked off at 9:30am, when KSBB met with the football team to distribute supplies and provide brief instructions.
“Many hands make light work, so get out there, have fun, and know that you are making a positive impact on the environment and our shared spaces in the community," shared Shannon.
Equipped with grabbers, gloves, trash bags, and high-visibility vests, the team was split into five groups and sent into five different cleanup zones throughout Statesboro. In just one hour, the team collected an astounding 1,180 pounds of litter from city streets and green spaces.
This event not only made an immediate visual and environmental impact, but also served as an inspiring reminder of what can be accomplished when our community comes together with purpose.
"We are proud of the Georgia Southern Football Team for leading by example and grateful to Coach Gant for initiating such a meaningful partnership," said Shannon.
“It’s important to us to give back to the community and show that we are committed on and off the field," shared Coach Gant.
KSBB is committed to fighting litter and waste by working with dedicated volunteers, students, nonprofits, and local organizations to raise awareness, prevent littering, and preserve the beauty of our community. The Eagles Tackle Trash event was a powerful example of that mission in action.
For more information about Keep Statesboro-Bulloch Beautiful, click here.
