Groups and organizations that plan to take part in this year’s Lawrence County Cleanup Day May 5 are asked to turn in their applications by Friday, April 6.

The Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District is spearheading the event. Director Dan Palmer said his office has mailed out letters to those groups that participated last year, asking them to show their support for a cleaner Lawrence County by taking part again this year.

Those groups who did not take part last year but would like to this year may call the solid waste office at 532-1231.

The local sponsor for the event is Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Portsmouth. Distribution Supervisor Mike Payne said his company will bring in two tractor trailers filled with soft drinks, plus a couple of tents to allow volunteers to cool off and rest during the day-long litter cleanup. Coca Cola employees are also volunteering for the cleanup.

“This is our way of giving back to a community that supports us,” Payne said. “We’re linked in with the Pikeville, Ky., plant and they’re doing disaster relief in West Liberty, Ky.”

Again this year, Glad, Inc., and Nestle are national sponsors. Glad has provided Lawrence County 3,000 trash bags; Nestle is sending 1,248 bottles of water for volunteers.

Dow Chemical has given the solid waste district a $2,000 grant for the cleanup. Palmer said the money will be used to purchase T-shirts and litter grabbers for the cleanup volunteers.