Couple makes t-shirts to benefit Ogeechee River cleanup | Environment

By Evan Johnson - bio | email

STATESBORO, GA (WTOC) - For many years, relaxing at the Ogeechee River has been a family tradition for Tracy Smith and her husband Terry.

Tracy said, "My children came down here to Williams Landing a lot and they would fish and swim."

Terry said, "We took a walk around and brought our dog down for the first time and watched to dog run and jump in. It's such a beautiful place."

But in May 2011, the beautiful place was polluted with tens of thousands of dead fish.

"I'm scared to even put my feet in it right now, really," Tracy said.

Because of what the Ogeechee River means to the two, the couple created t-shirts with a hand-drawn design on the back. It's how they're trying to help out with the cleanup process.

The t-shirts are a part of a new line called 'Straight From the South' and in addition to pictures of the river, fish, and a turtle, there are also things written on it like 'No Dumpin' Allowed' and 'Save our Rivers'.

Terry designed the emblem and both he and his wife will donate half of the proceeds to the Ogeechee Riverkeeper.

Ogeechee Riverkeeper Dianna Wedincamp said, "I think that a lot of citizens in the south like to wear t-shirts to express their feelings."

Wedincamp says the money donated will go directly to the river in the form of monitoring and trash pickup.

Tracy and Terry just hope their t-shirts will have an extra large impact.

Terry said, "I want to be able to come down here one day and see hundreds of children and families."

Tracy said, "Oh, I hope to see a beautiful, clean river that we can all enjoy again."

So instead of only walking along the banks folks can eventually jump in and fish.

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