The numbers look good so far, but there is still time to make this the best year ever for the Great American Cleanup next month.

Sponsored by the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste District in conjunction with Keep America Beautiful, more than 1,000 volunteers are committed to hit the streets, roads and neighborhoods of Lawrence County to pickup trash May 4.

This is a big day for Lawrence County and important to the overall appearance of the region. With more than 60,000 citizens, we would like to see more people rise to the occasion and participate in some way or another.

The countywide cleanup begins at 9 a.m. at several meeting points including Depot Square in Ironton and the Chesapeake Community Center.

There are currently 53 groups signed up and the downtown businesses in Ironton have been encouraged to attend.

Dumpsters will be provided for residents in Union, Rome, Fayette, Lawrence and Elizabeth townships. Perry Township and Proctorville will make dumpsters available a day later.

It isn’t too late for individuals or groups to get involved. Call the solid waste district at (740) 532-1231 to get free garbage bags and pick your own area of the county to focus on.

Every elected official from Ironton, the villages and the townships should mark this on their calendars and lead by example.

Having 1,000 people signed up is great. Having 10,000 would be amazing.

Making Lawrence County beautiful will take far more than one day’s effort but May 5 is a good start toward changing the entire mindset.