Southern Pines' Appearance Commission is asking residents to volunteer for a few hours Saturday morning, Oct. 30, in the first Operation Cleanup, a special anti-litter event that former Commission President Tom Worth is organizing. The date may be changed in case of bad weather.

Worth would like to attract 150 to 200 volunteers who will be organized into groups and assigned streets to pick up roadside trash after having coffee and doughnuts at 9 a.m. at the town municipal park, corner of East Pennsylvania and Broad Street downtown.

"We've got a pretty town and no part of it should be an eyesore," said Worth. "In some places this special effort is sorely needed, particularly on thoroughfares."

Clubs are responsible for certain roads but the litter in some places accumulates faster than they can pick it up on their quarterly schedule.

"If Southern Pines people would just regularly think about picking up trash that is just in front of their house, that would take care of half the litter in this town," he said.

Worth said he will supply gloves to anyone who wants to use them, and people are asked to bring a trash bag. It would be helpful to bring a "picker-upper," a long stick that picks up pine cones.

"This will be in the morning only," he said. "Properly organized groups can get finished in minutes."

To be part of this special cleanup, call Worth at (910) 692-7685.