A group of volunteers have gotten together the past two weekends in an attempt to clean up blight along Columbia Street.

For the past two weeks, volunteers have focused on the area from 504 through 512 Columbia. Workers have boarded up empty buildings and placed a façade in front of a vacant lot.

“This has been a project of the Main Street Program since day one,” Main Street Manager Robin Day said. “Most of this property is just blighted. It gives the impression we have no pride in ownership. This is a beautification project to help enhance our Main Street District. We’ve had a generous donor of the materials and have had Bogalusa High School’s JROTC Program volunteer.”

JROTC members who volunteered on Feb. 28 included Jonathan Sumrall, Gregory Chalfant, Logan Nicholson, Blake Grant and Cheyenne Wetzel.

Teddy Drummond said volunteering is the best way to help the city overcome its problem with blighted properties.

“Instead of going to the public meetings and the doughnut shop complaining, we’re actually rolling up sleeves and getting something accomplished,” Drummond said. “All those who have been complaining are sitting at home.”