The Ironton Junior High Kids Care Club will live up to its name Saturday by once again pitching in to help clean up the city.

For the third consecutive year, the civic group of seventh- and eighth-graders plans to participate in Ironton Volunteer Day that begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Riverfront Park boat ramp.

With more than 100 members, the Kids Care Club is the largest civic club in the Ironton school district. The group donated $400 to purchase flowers and at least 40 members of the club will help plant flowers, trees and just generally clean up Ironton.

Several of the club members said they were excited to participate once again.

"I think it is fun. You are helping the community and making new friends," eighth-grader Mindy Imes said. "You also get to do stuff with your friends that you don't normally get to do."

"I think people should get more involved in the community. Just helping out makes the community more beautiful."

First-time participant Mollie Kincaid agreed.

"Maybe other people will see us out there working and it will inspire them to come help out, too," she said.

"We are just looking forward to getting down there and getting our hands dirty to plant some flowers," said IJHS Principal Jerry Watson. "This serves a few purposes. It helps beautify the community for those who live here and makes it look nice for visitors to Ironton.

"It also helps the students build portfolios of community service that they can use as they apply for college."

Eighth-grader Sami Morgan emphasized that giving up just a little time can be very self-rewarding.

"You just get a good feeling to know that you are helping the community," she said.