Jeff Watson

Staff Writer

CHERAW--Cheraw Town Council member Jacqueline Ellerbe hopes that community cleanup efforts will effect change in neighborhoods and make certain areas a little cleaner.

The community cleanup will take place Saturday at 8 a.m. Participants will meet at the corner of Huger and Agerton streets for a short ceremony.

"My mission is to clean up the neighborhoods and make them more vibrant," said Ellerbe. "We want to revitalize these communities and get them back to the way they were in the past."

Ellerbe leads a Neighborhood Revitalization Foundation group and the group has existed for three years.

"A group of us got together three years ago and organized a community clean up," said Ellerbe. "PalmettoPride, a statewide anti-litter campaign, awarded the a pilot project, an Extreme Neighborhood Makeover."

Some of the areas in the communities have overgrown lots and areas that make it hard for anyone to see what is taking place. Ellerbe said that cleaning these areas will help deter negative activity from occurring.

"I think that cleaning these overgrown lots will make them more visible for the community and police," said Ellerbe. "I think this will help reduce crime."

Ellerbe also wants to get youths involved in the cleanup. Ellerbe wants to educate the children on how taking care of their community will benefit them and give them something to be a part of.

"We want the young people to have something to do, some activities," said Ellerbe. "Instead of walking the street and finding trouble we want to give them something to do and possibly keep them off the streets."

Ellerbe hopes that cleaning these areas will also bring back a sense of pride and ownership to the communities. Future plans for these communities include a neighborhood garden and a community park.

The streets due to be cleaned will be Baker, Davis, Agerton, Huger, Allen, Brasington, Howard, Second, Tote, Cash, Thomas, Harrel Clemmons, Maynard, Jerico, Godfrey, and A.C.L Ave.