PalmettoPride SC Sweep Urges Allendale Volunteers to Join March Cleanups

Keep Allendale County Beautiful has a cleanup scheduled for March 27, and PalmettoPride is urging county residents to show up — and to sign the PalmettoPledge before they do.

The pledge is part of PalmettoPride's 2026 SC Sweep, a 10-day statewide litter removal campaign that kicked off March 21 and runs through March 29. The effort, which PalmettoPride designed to coincide with the first days of spring, has already drawn participation from 43 counties, with organizers still seeking volunteers and events in Calhoun, Marion, and Cherokee counties to achieve full statewide coverage. In 2025, the inaugural SC Sweep reached all 46 counties.

The numbers from that first year make clear what organized volunteerism can produce. According to data collected by PalmettoPride, the 2025 campaign mobilized 1,948 participants who logged 4,140 hours, removed 163,415 pounds of litter across 4,669 bags, and saved South Carolina an estimated $144,033 in cleanup costs.

The case for why that labor matters shows up vividly in places like an empty lot off Monticello Road in Columbia, where volunteers have encountered discarded tires, broken toilets, old furniture, and even a mailbox. PalmettoPride organizers note that illegal dumping sites like that one remain a persistent problem across the state, and that consistent community cleanup efforts can reduce the likelihood of future dumping taking hold.

For Allendale-area residents who want to get involved before the March 27 event, signing the PalmettoPledge on the PalmettoPride website is the first step. The pledge reads: "I pledge to do my part to keep South Carolina beautiful. During the SC Sweep, I will join my community in the fight against litter by picking up trash and encouraging others to do the same. I will strive to make a positive impact and put litter in its place, one bag at a time, and take pride in keeping our state clean. Because I know... It's in the bag!" Everyone who signs is automatically entered into the SC Sweepstakes for a chance to win prizes, including exclusive PalmettoPride merchandise.

Groups and first-time organizers can request free resources from PalmettoPride, including safety guides, planning tools, and pickup supplies. PalmettoPride also asks that participants report their involvement after cleanups so the organization can track the campaign's cumulative reach.

More than 100 cleanup events are scheduled statewide through March 29. Among those nearby, Barnwell County's Keep Barnwell County Beautiful held a Blackville cleanup on March 21, the same day the Orangeburg County SC Sweep began its week-long run. The Colleton Adopt-a-Highway SC Sweep and the Aiken County SC Sweep are both scheduled for March 26, putting Allendale's March 27 date squarely in a stretch of Lowcountry activity. Volunteers are also encouraged to post their efforts using the hashtag #SCSweep and tag PalmettoPride on social media.