Local churches rose to the challenge issued by Keep Suffolk Beautiful this season to help clean up the city.

The Church Cleanup Challenge was held from Sept. 14 through Nov. 16, in which churches were asked to clean up a street, park or other public space in the city, and then follow that up by sending a friendly challenge to a different church to do the same. The churches provided the volunteers while Keep Suffolk Beautiful provided the litter equipment.

About a half-dozen churches participated in the challenge this year, according to Keep Suffolk Beautiful Chairperson Kathy Russell.

On behalf of Keep Suffolk Beautiful, Wayne Jones thanked all the churches that held cleanups in the past few months, and he also encouraged other organizations to keep up this good work this winter.

“Keep Suffolk Beautiful would like to remind all churches and organizations that they can organize a cleanup anytime of the year,” Jones wrote in an email. “Volunteer cleanups make a big difference in the fight against litter and improving the look of our city.  Equipment is provided and all bags and debris are picked up after the cleanup.”

Contact Litter Control by phone at 514-7604 or via email at littercontrol@suffolkva.us for more information.