The Adopt-a-Highway program is a wonderful endeavor that brings people together for a common cause.

Driving along roads in Bowling Green, it’s common to see Adopt-a-Highway signs. These signs represent companies, civic organizations, church groups, Greek organizations and other entities that adopt stretches of highway and agree to maintain them at least four times a year.

The Adopt-a-Highway program was established in 1988 to dispose of roadside litter and promote a cleaner environment. Kentucky’s Adopt-a-Highway program has nearly 700 volunteer groups cleaning up 1,400 miles of roadside throughout the state.

It’s a great program, and by joining, these groups are committing to keep our streets and highways clean.

Since Sept. 26, these groups have been involved in the Fall Sweep, one of three seasonal pushes to clean stretches of highways and state roads. Turnout for the program, which ended Saturday, was great. Volunteers put a lot of effort into cleaning debris and litter from our roadways. There are probably many other things that these volunteers could be doing, but they participate in this because they care about this community and the environment. 

Alex Anderson, a sort manager at FedEx Ground in Bowling Green, said he convinced his workplace, located off Nashville Road, to adopt a stretch of the the road about six months ago. Anderson said he did so because he wanted to give back to the community.

Recently, he and 19 employees were dropped off at the far end of FedEx Ground’s portion of Nashville Road and walked back to their workplace, picking up trash along the way.

That’s the kind of spirit that makes this program so successful.

People who get involved in Adopt-a-Highway truly love this community. They show it in many ways, and we are all indebted to them for it.