Keep Bladen Beautiful, which is organizing Bladen County's participation in North Carolina Big Sweep, is seeking volunteers to help cleanup the waterways in the county in the statewide cleanup effort that will take place on October 2, according to Gloria Dove, who is coordinating the effort.

This year's Bladen County effort will take place at two locations in the county-White Lake and on the Cape Fear River.

The White Lake Big Sweep is being jointly sponsored by Wal-Mart and Camp Clearwater.

The White Lake group will meet at White Lake Water Sports and Marina the morning of October 2 at 9 a.m. Further information on the event will be released later.

"Richard and Maria Pulsifer, new owners of the marina, are allowing us to use their facility for the Big Sweep at the lake," said Gloria Dove, Keep Bladen Beautiful coordinator. "But as of now, we don't have a volunteer who has agreed to act as captain of the White Lake cleanup."

Anyone interested in volunteering to act as captain of the effort at White Lake may do so by calling Dove at 645-4279.

Dove said Smithfield Packing Company is sponsoring the Cape Fear River Big Sweep effort.

"Tammy Smith is in charge of the effort at Smithfield," said Dove. "Many of the volunteers for that cleanup will come from the company, but others are invited to join the effort. They will meet somewhere in the Tar Heel area; however, the exact location has not yet been decided.

"Volunteers who wish to participate in the Cape Fear River Big Sweep may call Tammie (Smith) at 862-7675," said Dove.

In addition, North Carolina Big Sweep is seeking donations of cars and boats that owners are disposing of, as well as financial donations, to help finance the statewide campaign.

N.C. Big Sweep President Judy Bolin said the donations are needed to help pull the statewide organization through its financial crisis.

"We've been around for 18 years, but this economy over the past two years has been very hurtful to us," said Bolin. "We've cut costs to the bone and used our rainy day fund. We need help now."

To make a donation, call 1-800-27-SWEEP, Bolin said.

"In return for donating your car, RV or boat to Big Sweep, you can get a tax deduction because N.C. Big Sweep is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit," she said.

Cars will be accepted even if they aren't running, provided that they have tires and an engine and their value is more than the cost of towing. Boats must have a trailer and an engine-unless they are sailboats.

Bolin said arrangements have been made to accept donations in all 100 counties of North Carolina. Donations can be collected generally within four business days.

"Financial contributions would also be greatly appreciated as well," Bolin said. "Where else can you give to an organization that coordinates about 15,000 volunteers a year to clean up North Carolina's environment? We're an award-winning nonprofit that has made a real difference in North Carolina."

Founded in 1987, Big Sweep was the nation's first statewide waterway cleanup.

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