MILWAUKEE — Thousands of people are set to participate in a major cleanup of Wisconsin's rivers and lakes with the Milwaukee Riverkeepers later this week.

It's an extension of Earth Day celebrations, a day to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Volunteers will boot up, and comb the areas around the river picking up trash. The event is part fun, part serious business.

Milwaukee Riverkeepers entices people to come out and have fun with friends and free beer, but also do a good deed for their community.

Executive director Jennifer Bolger Breceda said the group collects nearly 100,000 pounds of trash that may have otherwise ended up in the water each year.

"The community has realized how important how our natural resources and open spaces really are. We found solace in them, we filled our souls during the pandemic by taking walks and communing with nature. So, this is a great way to give back and make our waterways healthier," Bolger-Breceda said.

The event will be held Saturday, April 23. It'll be spread out across several Southeastern Wisconsin counties. 80-100 spots will be cleaned all at once between 9 a.m. - noon and a party will be held afterwards for volunteers after at Harley Davidson.

Sign up to help out here.