KSB Receives Grant for Pollinator Pockets
Keep Smyrna Beautiful recently received a $2,500 Sandra Webb Legacy Grant from the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, a statewide organization that leads more than 70 city and county affiliates in their efforts to end litter, reduce waste, promote recycling, and beautify communities.
A Legacy of Environmental Stewardship
The grant program, now in its fourth year, was made possible by the Webb family, and allocates funding for projects that address sustainability needs. It also honors the memory of Sandra Webb, who founded Keep Madison County Beautiful in the early 1990s and spent more than three decades championing environmental initiatives.
“At Keep Smyrna Beautiful, we’re passionate about protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for our residents. This grant will do both by helping us expand our new Pollinator Pockets program,” said Julie Barwig, executive director of Keep Smyrna Beautiful and director of Environmental Services for the City of Smyrna.
Protecting Smyrna’s Pollinators
Pollinator Pockets is a community-driven environmental program that supports native pollinators by creating small, sustainable gardens throughout the city. The first garden, located at the Smyrna Recycling Center, is thriving and will be formally introduced during a grand opening on June 16. This grant will fund a second garden in Ward 7, advancing the goal of placing a pollinator pocket in every ward of the city. Each garden is pesticide-free, 100–200 square feet, and made up of at least 75% native plants. The program also includes educational outreach, resident resource guides, and a plan to create a large demonstration garden to be built in a public park. Our ultimate goal is to create a pollinator corridor through Smyrna while uniting residents around a shared commitment to environmental stewardship.
Investing in the Future
“When we invest in the environment, we invest in the well-being of communities,” said Natalie Johnston-Russell, executive director of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation. “Thanks to the generosity of the Webb family, our affiliates can continue creating cleaner, greener, more vibrant spaces across Georgia.”