Making a difference can start with one act of kindness, and that's why area residents are lending a helping hand for the 8th Annual Wisconsin River Clean Up Day.

The DNR and several area businesses are teaming up to encourage the community to keep our rivers, lakes, and streams clean throughout Marathon County.

Many people say they feel good about helping the environment, and volunteers in Friday’s Wisconsin River clean up say they're definitely trying to show they care about the Wisconsin River area.

Mosinee High School student Mackenzie Fochs says, "It makes me feel good about myself, I’m in girl scouts and that's kind of one of the things, you want to make things better and then when you started with them and it’s just really nice to see the actual difference you make.

Fochs has volunteered to clean along the Wisconsin River for 3 years and she says she's found things like mattresses and TV sets.
But this year, organizers say things are looking like better, because more people are pitching in to clean along the river's edge.

President of Wisconsin River Clean Up, Jodi Meyer says "We see less garbage than what we have collected in the past all the areas that we have cleaned are clean so we're finding there is some impact on the community".

Meyer says there are still areas in need of cleaning, especially by Lake Wausau where debris from the ice fishing shanties collect and deposit along the shoreline.

High school student volunteers say they want to do what they can when it comes to fishing in our lakes and streams.

Other High school student Tyler Mouw says "It feels good to clean up other peoples trash, I know that sounds weird but it’s for the environment you know what’s the point of fishing if you can’t fish there anymore."

With the help and dedication of more than 200 volunteers the Wisconsin River is sure to be debris free.

After the River Clean-Up, the students watched presentations on the importance of keeping our waters clean.