WELCOME! You are receiving this newsletter as a KMB member, friend, volunteer or supporter to stay updated on KMB news, events, and volunteer opportunities. Every piece of litter we pick up, every tree we plant, and every educational campaign we run, we are contributing to a legacy of care and respect for our surroundings. With YOUR help, we are making McIntosh a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful place for ourselves, our families, and future generations. THANK YOU!



We've had some tough days recently with Helene, and the damage was more severe than we anticipated. But the way the community rallied together was nothing short of inspiring. You truly don't understand the strength of your community until you face difficult times side by side. We couldn't be prouder!

Don’t forget! Our Member/Volunteer Appreciation & Open House has been rescheduled to OCT 24! Hope to see you there! We value your ideas, desires, and needs. How can Keep McIntosh Beautiful better serve and enrich our community

We are delighted to invite you to our Member/Volunteer Appreciation & Open House! This is our special way of saying THANK YOU for your invaluable support and dedication to keeping McIntosh beautiful.

An evening of celebration, camaraderie, and a look back at all we have accomplished together. Enjoy refreshments, meet fellow members and volunteers, and learn about our exciting plans for the future.

JOIN. RENEW. VOLUNTEER.

IMPORTANT UPDATE our upcoming water cleanup event OCT 19:

* We’ll be focusing on shoreline cleanup only—no in-water activities.

* According to FKG Park Ranger Michael Putnam, an unusually high tide is expected on October 19, making water cleanup unsafe. But don’t worry, we’ll still be tackling the shoreline!

* Join us to help keep our community clean, green, and beautiful. You’ll also receive a free RIVERS ALIVE t-shirt and the satisfaction of making a difference. We’d love to see you there!

RIVERS ALIVE! FREE T-SHIRT!

Oct. 19, 2024

8:30am-Noon

Butler’s Island Dock & Kayak Launch

Sign Up! Call 912-289-1083 or Email keepmcintoshbeautiful@gmail.com.

TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 

Our annual Fall Community Recycling Event is coming up Saturday, November 9, from 9 AM – 1 PM at Eulonia Park. THANK YOU to our recycling partners Southern Metals Recycling, Sensible Recycling & Waste Management.

COLLECTING: Electronics. Flat Screen TVs. Scrap Metal & Appliances. Batteries. Ink Cartridges. CFL Light Bulbs & Fluorescent Tubes (up to 4 FT only). Household Goods. AND MUCH MORE…

All services are FREE!



Assistance will be available for unloading items and materials from vehicles. Each participant will also receive an updated McIntosh County Recycling Guide, listing where a wide variety of items and materials can be taken for reuse or recycling in our area.

ANNUAL COASTAL GEORGIA CIGARETTE LITTER

PREVENTION EFFORT IS UNDERWAY!

THE COASTERS ARE HERE! Our big campaign KickOff was derailed by Ms. Helene, but they're now everywhere! While you’re enjoying our local restaurants and bars, be on the lookout! Snap a shot and tag us!

For the seventh consecutive year, entities in Georgia's six coastal counties are continuing a joint battle against the nation's number one most littered item: cigarette butts.

Providing comprehensive coverage of Georgia's coastal area, Keep Liberty Beautiful, Keep Savannah Beautiful, Keep McIntosh Beautiful, Keep Camden Beautiful, Keep Pembroke Beautiful, Tybee Clean Beach Volunteers, the City of Tybee Island, University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, and Keep Golden Isles Beautiful have again united in a coast-wide cigarette litter awareness educational initiative: GEORGIA’S COAST IS NOT AN ASHTRAY.

Made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic, cigarette butts do not easily biodegrade. Discarded butts have a negative impact as land litter, but once blown into storm drains or tossed directly into water sources, this toxic litter becomes marine debris, leaching chemicals into marine and aquatic environments and potentially being ingested by those inhabitants. With coastal Georgia's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean as well as its abundance of streams, rivers, lakes, creeks, salt and freshwater marshes and ponds, the coast-wide initiative focuses on cigarette butts in relation to water bodies.

Generously funded by a grant from Keep America Beautiful, this multi-year combined effort has resulted in over 700 public space receptacles placed in coastal Georgia. This initiative aligns perfectly with our commitment to environmental stewardship and preserving the natural beauty of our coastline. By participating this year with our messaged drink coaster outreach, we hope to inspire our community to take action and protect our precious coastal environment.

GLASS RECYCLING OPTIONS

Glass jars and bottles are no longer being collected in our curbside recycling bins. This is not really a bad thing, as glass breakage, which is common, can contaminate the other items in a truck’s load – paper, cardboard, metal, and plastics – making them all unfit to recycle. Collecting glass separately from other recyclables solves this problem. We don’t currently have a convenient (local) glass recycling option, which our county needs to work on. In the meantime, you may consider donating your glass to GlassWRX, described below.

GlassWRX SC is collecting glass at two locations in Glynn County. At its one-of-a-kind plant in Beaufort, SC. Glass WRX converts the glass into a versatile pumice-like material that can be used for road surfacing, as a gravel substitute, to clean air systems and sewage treatment plants, and made into construction materials and sea walls when mixed with concrete.

The company needs all the glass it can get, and McIntosh residents are welcome – and encouraged – to take their glass to these Republic Services drop-off locations:  550 Young Lane in Brunswick and 100 Recycle Way, located behind the St Simon’s Island Farmer’s market on 200 Demere Road.

Taking turns with friends and neighbors for the trip to SSI or Brunswick can make this easier. Items accepted are clear or colored food jars and beverage bottles ONLY, free of residue.

NO window glass, ceramics, dishes, or lightbulbs.

There will be multiple check-in points making getting in to party much faster and easier. No long waits in line with an extended wine/beer bar. Better user-friendly recycling stations for your cans and bottles! A new Raw Bar!

And the ENTERTAINMENT... We'll have Joshua & Jason with DEFUNK entertaining us from 5-7pm this year. And headliner MICHAEL HULETT taking on the last hour! More details to come.

WE LOVE OUR PARTNERS!

We believe in the power of collaboration and partnering with people and businesses like you directly help further our mission and amplify our impact.

Interested in partnering? JOIN US! DETAILS BELOW.

WELCOME NEW PARTNERS! WE APPRECIATE YOU!

McIntosh SEED

Hamilton Place Airbnb Statesboro

Fryer Law Firm Atlanta

And we're loving McIntosh County Industial

Development Authority's new logo. Check it out!

WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE RIGHT HERE IN MCINTOSH?

JOIN US! VOLUNTEER! We need YOU!

MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS!

Their passion for community is unparalleled!

2024

GEORGIA'S COAST IS NOT AN ASHTRAY cigarette littler prevention campaign is ongoing. The coasters are at every restaurant and bar in McIntosh!

OCTOBER 19

Annual River's Alive Shoreline CleanUp Event. Butler's Island Dock and Kayak Launch. 8:30am-Noon. *BECAUSE OF SAFETY REASONS, WE'LL ONLY BE DOING A LAND PICKUP. NO WATER ACTIVITIES! WE'LL TRY TO RESCHEDULE THE WATER PORTION LATER.

NOVEMBER 2

Stop by our table at the Darien Fall Fest for goodies & giveaways!

NOVEMBER 9

Fall Recycling Event at Eulonia Park. Keep it Clean Recycle Green! Bring your old, unusable electronics, appliances... to us!

DECEMBER 1

Join us for Darien's Joyful Christmas Celebration!

2025

FEBRUARY 22

We're celebrating Georgia Arbor Day! It's all about the trees! Partnering with the Georgia Forestry Commission. Some of their big equipment will be on display!

MARCH 22

Community Events to KickOff Greatest American CleanUp. Look for 3 separate activities! We'll be doing something (1) Clean, (2) Green and (3) Beautiful!

APRIL 12

Find KMB's table at the Blessing Of The Fleet!

APRIL 22

We'll be celebrating Earth Day 2025 by planting Pollinator Gardens! Partnering with UGA Extension/4H. PROTECT OUR SPECIES! Location TBD.

MAY 17

Spring Recycle Event at the McIntosh Middle School. We plan to have paper shredders!

JUNE TBD

KickOff Summer Reading Program at the Ida Hilton Library!

AND IT'S FREE! Call 912-437-6671 to set up service.

LIKE and FOLLOW us on FACEBOOK and

INSTAGRAM for Event Updates!

Join us in helping Keep McIntosh Beautiful! Partnering with KMB benefits you and your business in a big way. We believe in the power of collaboration and are seeking PARTNERSHIPS with people and businesses to further our mission and amplify our impact.

By becoming a partner of KMB, you’ll be directly contributing to our programs designed to enhance the beauty and economic activity in our community. *Land and Water Cleanups and Litter Control *Recycling Events and Education *Community Improvement and Beautification Projects *Our Award-Winning Abandoned Buildings Program that is removing dilapidated buildings and mobile homes.

In return, we offer various PARTNERSHIP Packages tailored to align with your company’s values and objectives. Benefits may include brand exposure through our marketing channels, opportunities for employee engagement, and recognition at our events and initiatives. In the past, we have reached out for Oyster Roast/BBQ Fundraiser Sponsors. Why just one event when we can celebrate our supporters ALL year long? PARTNERSHIPS are the answer!

We understand the importance of meaningful partnerships and are committed to ensuring that our partners receive tangible value and recognition for their support all year long. Together, we can create positive change and make a lasting difference in the lives of our neighbors.

Your support is vital. Keep McIntosh Beautiful is a 501(c)3 non-profit and registered affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation network, but we receive no financial support from either of these organizations and are one of only a few state affiliates

(out of 73) which receive no local government funding. Learn more about KMB and what we’re doing at www.KeepMcIntoshBeautiful.com.

We DO ask that you arrange at least one cleanup yearly. Pick up trash right in front of your business or host a bigger pickup with employees elsewhere in our community. You’ll be given all supplies needed - litter grabbers, safety vests, bottled water, trash bags. What a mutually beneficial bonding activity AND exceptional marketing moment!

Thank you for considering this opportunity. We look forward to the possibility of working together to create a brighter future for our community. Working together for a clean, green and beautiful McIntosh County!

Tracy Sanford, Executive Director