High Point’s sixth-annual Summer Trash Smash – a community event meant to help spruce up the city – will take place on Saturday, Aug. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon, all across High Point.

The event not only brings people together in an effort to clean up the roads and walkways – it’s also meant to encourage residents to clean up the outside of their homes and remove debris from their property.

The citywide effort to remove litter from neighborhoods and homes also offers participants a chance to win gift cards from local businesses.

The City of High Point likes to look good, and, to that end, it even has a  “beautification supervisor” position.

Rebecca Coplin, who currently holds that job, said this is a great moment for the community each year.

“The Summer Trash Smash is an effort that is beneficial in several different ways,” she said. “Residents are encouraged to keep their property and surrounding neighborhood clean and green and are recognized in a small but encouraging way.”

During the event, some police and fire personnel will be driving through High Point, looking for people cleaning up neighborhoods or beautifying their property. When they come across someone doing this, they may stop and give the person or persons a gift card from one of the participating sponsors.

Local eateries and grocery stores are providing the gift cards.

“Police and fire personnel have the opportunity to interact with our residents in a very positive way while also helping to provide a resource to food in an area classified as a food desert,” Coplin said. “This positive interaction and effort is a wonderful thing for the community.”

Not all officers and fire fighters on duty will be distributing gift cards – so don’t flag them down and say, “Hey, where the heck is my gift card!?  Can’t you see I am beautifying the city?”

Residents should put any trash or recycling into their personal rolling carts or apartment dumpster. Larger items can be placed on the side of the road for eventual  collection by High Point’s bulk collection truck.

If you have questions about the event, you can call Coplin at 336-883-3520 or email her at rebecca.coplin@highpointnc.gov.

For more information on City of High Point events, visit www.highpointnc.gov.