VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: with Keep Manatee Beautiful both November 8 and November 15
Keep Manatee Beautiful (KMB) is in need of volunteers this November to lead two efforts focused on community pride and environmental stewardship. The first, the Downtown Bradenton Cleanup with Mayor Gene Brown on Saturday, November 8 at 9:00 a.m., will bring residents together for a litter cleanup in the city’s Village of the Arts and Downtown corridor. The following weekend, on Saturday, November 15 at 9:00 a.m., KMB and UF/IFAS will host the Manatee Square Garden Expansion Beautification Project, transforming and expanding a local green space into a vibrant food forest through community planting, mulching, and beautification.
***
Bradenton, FL — November 2025 — This month, Keep Manatee Beautiful (KMB) is leading two community projects designed to enhance Bradenton’s appearance, foster sustainability, and strengthen civic pride. On Saturday, November 8, KMB will join Mayor Gene Brown and local volunteers for a Downtown Bradenton Litter Cleanup, meeting at the corner of 9th Avenue W and 12th Street W at 9:00 a.m. The event invites residents, businesses, and families to help pick up litter and debris throughout the downtown area. All cleanup supplies—including gloves, bags, and tools—will be provided by KMB. Volunteers are asked to wear closed-toe shoes, bring water, sunscreen, and come ready to make a visible difference.
Just one week later, on Saturday, November 15, KMB will shift gears toward beautification with the Manatee Square Garden Expansion Beautification Project, held at 410 6th Avenue E in Bradenton beginning at 9:00 a.m. In partnership with UF/IFAS Extension and Manatee County Government, this project will expand the existing community garden and “food forest,” adding new plants, fruit trees, and pollinator-friendly landscaping. Volunteers will take part in hands-on work to improve access to green space, promote local food sources, and support pollinator habitats while learning about sustainable planting techniques.
Both efforts reflect KMB’s mission to engage the public in proactive, hands-on solutions that keep Manatee County clean, green, and beautiful. Together, they demonstrate the power of collective action—from picking up litter downtown to planting the seeds of a healthier future in our neighborhoods. Members of the media are invited to attend both events.
Since 1991, Keep Manatee Beautiful has been a nonprofit affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Florida Beautiful, inspiring residents to take environmental action through litter prevention, recycling, education, and beautification. For more information or to RSVP as a volunteer, visit http://www.manateebeautiful.com.