Pick It Up! Possum Town

The quintessential mission of the Pick It Up! Possum Town committee is to bring about and sustain a cleaner Columbus. Its efforts are not limited to picking-up trash but to keeping Columbus cleaner, more presentable, healthful, and safer for residents, visitors, and travelers for generations to come.

As of June 28, 2022, The Pick It Up! Possum Town Committee became duly authorized to seek grants, monetary and in-kind tax-deductible donations to equip and sustain its citizen-led litter and pollution abatement initiatives on behalf of the City of Columbus by making donations payable to the Pick It Up! Possum Town Committee, in C/O the City of Columbus.

Message from Mayor Gaskin

"On behalf of the City of Columbus and its city council, I encourage all businesses, citizens, and organizations to participate and support future Pick It Up! Possum Town events. With your help, we are confident that the city and its citizens will benefit from a cleaner and safer community and its byproduct of increased tourism, business investment, and events of all kinds that choose the City of Columbus as their destination"--Mayor Keith Gaskin

Upcoming Events

In 2023 - Together We Can Move Mountains!
Making ColumbUS Cleaner, More Presentable,
& Safer for Residents, Visitors, & Our Children!
BE PREPARED and BE SPONTANEOUS
In between major Clean-Up Events, be prepared and willing to Keep ColumbUS Clean and Beautiful by Spontaneously Picking Up Litter on its Discovery!
Post your before and after photos on the PIU!PT Facebook page of cleaning up the community of littering and dumping. One citizen/ one street at a time!
Pick It Up, Possum Town | Columbus MS I Faceboook "https://www.facebook.com/pickituppossumtown"

For More Information Contact:

Melissa Parsons

maparsonslittercampaign@gmail.com

Pick it Up! Possum Town Volunteer Registration

Volunteer Essentials

We appreciate volunteers participating in clean-up events for any duration, and there is no minimum commitment. However, it is also essential for volunteers to pace themselves, dress for outdoor work, wear sunscreen, and, if possible, come equipped with garden or work gloves and hard-soled shoes or boots.

Helpful Household Items for Clean-Up Events

· Five-Gallon Plastic Buckets | Available from Harbor Freight, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply, and others for approximately five dollars

· Trash Picker-Uppers | Available at Harbor Freight (on Highway 45 North) for under two dollars

· Heavy-duty garbage bags | Pick It Up! Possum Town supplies volunteers with donated garbage bags, but we can always use more

Please return unused garbage bags and supplied safety vests, five-gallon buckets, and trash picker-uppers at the end of each event. We have limited clean-up supplies and reuse everything possible for future clean-up events. | Pick It Up! Possum Town Committee

Community Involvement

Download Print Friendly Letter to Churches Here

Business Involvement

Download Print Friendly Version of Letter to Business Owners Here

Pick It Up! Possum Town In-Kind and Monetary Donations

On behalf of the City of Columbus and its city council, we encourage all businesses, citizens, and organizations to donate, participate, and support future Pick It Up! Possum Town events. With your help, we are confident that the city and its citizens will benefit from a cleaner and safer community and its byproduct of increased tourism, business investment, and events of all kinds that choose the City of Columbus as their destination.

City of Columbus Letter of Support

City of Columbus In-Kind & Monetary Donation Receipt

Business Value of Civic Donations

Businesses of all sizes and types benefit from giving back to their communities while simultaneously building stronger relationships, powerful brand awareness, and indisputable trust.
Establishing and sustaining a business’s brand and reputation requires a considerable network of professional relationships, suppliers, and loyal customers who likely support and volunteer at local nonprofits and charities.
Recent studies revealed that 85 percent of consumers had a more favorable opinion about businesses that supported a common cause, and even more so when businesses gave to multiple charities.
Businesses that demonstrate their community commitment in this manner are more expedient and successful in sustaining consumer relationships, attracting new business, and adding to their reputational value.