From community cleanups to community gardens, Keep Statesboro Bulloch Beautiful is undergoing a transformation. Led by their new coordinator, the organization is expanding its impact in the pursuit of a cleaner, greener environment.

Tucked beside of a roadside ditch and beneath the grueling summer sun, a different kind of local leadership is reshaping how the community sees its environment. From bottle caps and Bandaids to hefty mattresses and tires shunned to a life on the side of the road, Keep Statesboro Bulloch Beautiful (KSBB) is working day and night to keep the environment clean, guided by their new coordinator.

Founded in 2016, KSBB is a local organization filled with the sheer will and determination to ensure that the environment receives the gentle green-thumb touch it deserves, hosting clean-up events, educational opportunities and a community gardening area available for rent for anyone interested in learning how to grow their own plants.

Affiliated with Keep America Beautiful, an organization originally started in 1953 with the same goal in mind, KSBB focuses heavily on litter prevention and cleanup, the importance of recycling, waste reduction, and beautification.

Timeka Shannon pictured with a volunteer during a cleanup event that drew just two participants—though typical cleanups usually see around 8 to 10 volunteers. | Photo by Makayla Varner

KSBB runs a number of programs and events, one of which being a community garden that holds 24 raised beds and several ground plots, a popularity among residents who don’t have the space to begin gardening or would like a safe place to learn how to. Other programs include Recycle Fest, litter clean-ups, “Bring One for the Chipper,” fix-it fairs, tree rebate programs, and plenty of volunteer opportunities, all of which can be found listed here.

Recycle Fest, an event taking place on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, will feature paper shredding as well as recycling for electronic waste, used motor oil, tires, and medicine. This is an especially important event given that free recycling is not available in Statesboro.

“Bring one for the Chipper” features Christmas tree recycling, and the tree rebate program offers residents up to $150 rebate for planting qualifying trees.

While these programs have long been part of KSBB’s mission, they’ve taken on a new energy under the leadership of the group’s recently appointed coordinator as of March 2025. Originally from Idaho before making the big move to Georgia in 2022, Timeka Shannon is offering a new type of positivity and motivation as she works to improve her new community’s environment.

Timeka Shannon and participants during a gardening event. | Photo courtesy of Timeka Shannon

Before her formal career in environmental sustainability, Shannon was already deeply involved in community volunteer efforts ever since she was a kid, dedicating her time to riverway cleanups, elder care homes, and youth programs at her church—all early experiences that helped shape who she is today.

“I love people and connecting with the community,” said Shannon. “I feel like this job and this position has allowed me to really be engaged one-on-one with the community and help others to take an active role through community services and volunteerism and beautifying our shared spaces.”

Shannon previously worked for the City of Tybee Island, bringing that same passion with her as she now works around the clock to protect Statesboro’s shared landscape. Though she’s only served as coordinator for a few months, she has already represented KSBB at the All-American City Competition in Denver where she highlighted Statesboro’s environmental efforts and demonstrated her commitment to the outdoors through her hands-on efforts with cleanups, litter reduction and maintaining the community garden.

Timeka Shannon and a volunteer during a clean-up event. | Photo courtesy of Timeka Shannon

With all the good she’s done for the community, Shannon’s role as coordinator is still far from being quiet—she’s responsible for grant writing, coordinating events, and managing volunteers. She also works on multiple boards including the Tree Board, Greener Boro Commission, and the KSBB board. Rather than just managing the clean-up events and volunteers, Shannon makes sure she gets as hands-on as possible, going so far to even include her two children as she introduces them to the outside world and how to keep it clean.

As KSBB continues to push forward with cleanups, education and community building, Shannon hopes to inspire more residents to come out and take on an active role at preserving the beauty of the place they call home.

“The more people we have that can get involved and make these initiatives part of their lives as well, the bigger impact we can make in the community,” said Shannon.

For more information on Keep Statesboro Bulloch Beautiful, you can contact Timeka Shannon at [email protected] or see all their recent activities on their Facebook page.