MEMPHIS, TN -
(WMC-TV) - The neighborhood around LeMoyne-Owen College is a lot cleaner Saturday, thanks to work of students and community volunteers who turned out to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Bag after bag was filled with trash and other debris from the neighborhood surrounding Memphis' LeMoyne-Owen College.
"This is an affected area, and we're trying to do our part," said Freshman Lamarcus Johnson.
Johnson was one of several students who joined a number of community volunteers to sack the trash from empty lots and along neighborhood streets as a way to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior.
"The people out here may not be the ones actually living here, but the fact they're out here says a lot on its own," said Jamal Whitlow of the Memphis Urban League.
Kim Stewart-Thompson and her husband brought four daughters with them from Germantown.
"A half of a morning doesn't take much to help out," said Stewart-Thompson
She said the clean-up fits in with her family's plan for 2013.
"My mantra for the new year is to pay it forward," said Stewart-Thompson.
This is the 5th year for this day of service, organizers said there's no telling how much trash has been collected.
Organizers said there are two goals of the annual clean-up.
"Help keep the community clean, but also let the residents know that we love and respect our community," said Dr. Kimberly Lamar from LeMoyne-Owen College.
A community that no doubt appreciates a helping hand.
Students and volunteers try to maintain the area throughout the year, and said they can tell more and more residents are helping to keep things clean.
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