ATMORE, AL – The Poarch Creek Indians (PCI) will again be the title sponsor for the annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup event, taking place Saturday, September 21. Alabama Coastal Cleanup is the state’s largest annual volunteer event and is a project of Alabama People Against A Littered State (ALPALS). The organization is dedicated to making the state more beautiful by sponsoring programs focused on keeping Alabama waterways clean of debris that travels through storm drains, streams, and rivers, eventually becoming bay and gulf pollution. The Poarch Creek Indians have served for multiple years, helping clean up litter in Alabama’s streets, streams, and coastlines.
“Alabama PALS and Alabama Coastal Cleanup are proud of our relationships, friendships, and partnerships with the Poarch Creek Indians,” said Spencer Ryan, Executive Director of Alabama PALS. “The genuine stewardship of PCI is indicated through the ongoing title sponsorship of the Alabama Coastal Cleanup, as well as many other working partnerships throughout the year. To me, PCI represents what can be accomplished through long-term partnerships between active non-profits, government agencies, local and statewide businesses, and grass-roots volunteer efforts. PALS and the Alabama Coastal Cleanup look forward to the future of this wonderful and successful partnership”.
As part of their involvement, the Poarch Creek Indians youth leadership club known as The Keystone Club, is volunteering to help “Get the Trash out of the Splash” of Alabama’s coastal waterways and beaches. “Since 2017, we have partnered with ALPALS and the Alabama Coastal Cleanup project,” said Donna Koehrsen, Manager of Youth Development for the Poarch Creek Indians. “Participating in this event provides a great learning experience for our youth and a great opportunity to earn community service hours. The youth were so proud to clean up the beaches after the first year, that they could not wait to do it again. It is such a great cause and has turned out to be one of the Keystone Club’s favorite events.”
The Alabama Coastal Cleanup is part of the International Coastal Cleanup to remove marine debris from coastal waters around the world. Since 1987, over 110,000 volunteers have participated in the Alabama Coastal Cleanup and removed over 875 tons of marine debris from beaches, roadways, bayous, backwaters, and other coastal areas.
In addition to supporting this event each year, the Poarch Creek Indians operate the PCI Recycling Center located in Atmore, AL. This public facility collects plastic bottles, mixed and shredded paper, aluminum cans, cardboard, electronics, toner/ink, fluorescent light bulbs, and empty/rinsed pesticide containers.
