This weekend there was a river-wide effort to clean up local waterways in Greenville and Washington. It’s called the Big Sweep, part of a statewide initiative to keep the watersheds clean and prevent inland trash from getting swept out to sea. North Carolina was the first state in the nation to start such a program and other states have caught on, bringing out thousands of volunteers twice a year—spring and fall—to help keep the country looking beautiful, both aesthetically and biologically.

But in Washington, the number of volunteers for such events has been regrettably dwindling. Greenville’s turnout was in the double digits: members of the East Carolina University women’s basketball team showed up, as did J.H. Rose High School marine biology and environmental science students. They filled half a dumpster full of garbage those kayaking plucked from the Tar River and those on land picked from the greenway. Turnout in Greenville was actually down, as this year’s Big Sweep coincided with ECU’s fall break.

In Washington, however, five people showed up to the Big Sweep. That’s it, just five people willing to give up a couple of hours on a Saturday morning to do themselves, every county resident and every beachgoer on the Outer Banks a favor by picking up after those who don’t respect the natural environment. Sure, it’s dirty work. Sure, Saturday was a beautiful day — such a shame to spend it doing a chore.

Such a shame, indeed.

Every person in Beaufort County has an obligation to help keep the Pamlico River healthy. The river is a source of recreation and beauty. It is a source of personal income and tourism dollars. It reflects glorious sunsets and provides dinner, courtesy of a fishing line. It has shaped life in this place; it has shaped history. And because of all those things, every person who has ever found peace watching the river, eaten its bounty, earned a dollar from its attraction to out-of-towners, has a moral obligation to take care of what has taken care of us.

Five people recognized this on Saturday. Just five. Maybe in the spring, when the Big Sweep rolls around again, a more grateful populace will show.

And for those five people who did show? Thank you, from the rest of us.