Service Camp 2022 Day 1

What a great first day of Project Impact Summer Service Camp 2022! Our goal this week is to complete a service project in each of Thomas County’s cities: Meigs, Boston, Pavo, Coolidge, Metcalfe, Ochlocknee, and Thomasville. First stops: Meigs and Ochlocknee.

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In the 1950s, Meigs was booming thanks to the Dixie Highway Scenic Byway – a monument now marks the spot. Although now struggling like many small towns, its citizenry is active and determined to honor its history and revitalize their community. Our morning was spent with long-time partners the Virtuous Girls Group of Meigs. Together, we cleaned playground equipment, cleaned and organized the library, did some clean-up and landscaping at Meigs City Hall, helped organize items in the area that they soon hope to turn into a museum, and installed our first Little Free Library in partnership with Rotary of Thomasville and the Times-Enterprise.

After lunch, and a treat from Banks Italian Ice, we were off to our next project site, the Ochlocknee River. Ochlocknee is derived from the Appalachee language – oki meaning water and lagana meaning yellow (from the clay banks). While at the river, in partnership with Keep Thomas County Beautiful, we experienced a watershed model and collected 11 bags of trash, 2 tires, a chair, assorted car fenders, and other strange miscellaneous items in less than two hours. We are sad that there was actually so much trash to pick up (and probably will be again), but we are happy to be able to do our part.

Today was HOT and hard work, but we are proud of these kids and their determination and enthusiasm.