Due to social distancing protocols caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Friends of the Muscatatuck River Society won’t be conducting its annual Fall River Shady Sweep or sanctioning individual or group efforts.

Many crew members will still be conducting individual and small group cleanups, and they hope others make similar efforts.

Registration will be a drive-thru-style instead of the typical open style. Participants will arrive at 8 a.m. Saturday at Vernon Commons via Brown Street by the Vernon Fire Station, turn and drive past and stop at the Vernon Commons shelter house.

FMRS personnel (wearing masks and gloves) will issue bags, buckets and tools. Each site leader will be issued a form to document the workers’ names and shirt sizes. An FMRS worker will collect forms and help coordinate and suggest a cleaning site. If volunteers don’t have a site in mind, one can be suggested.

Groups consisting of immediate family or friends are suggested. Groups will be individually responsible for their parties, and participation will not be associated with the FMRS group.

At noon, volunteers will reconvene at the Jennings County Highway Department/Recycle Center to collect equipment and share stories of what work they completed. FMRS workers will issue prepackaged promotional items (T-shirts and wristbands) in paper bags for contact-free distribution. Volunteers also should bring any collected trash for the highway department to pick up.

Lunch will not be provided.