Help us make Richmond shine.

That’s the message City Hall is pushing as the city prepares to welcome thousands of visitors to the world road racing championships next month.

The city is launching the RVA Community Improvement Blitz, with the first round including two days of litter pickup in several areas of the city from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 15.

Volunteers are being recruited for the big cleanup and to undertake other improvements on Friday in Shockoe Bottom, Great Shiplock Park and Rocketts Landing and in the Carver neighborhood between Belvidere, Lombardy, Leigh and Broad streets.

The cleanup will continue Saturday with volunteer cleaning brigades working in the area of the 14th Street Bridge and the Manchester neighborhood and also in Carytown and Scott’s Addition.

Volunteers can register at www.HandsOnRVA.org or at Richmondgov.com/NeighbortoNeighbor to participate or conduct a cleanup in their own neighborhood. Contributions to pay for litter grabbers, gloves, tools, paint and plants also are being accepted.

“This is a great opportunity for everyone throughout the Metro Richmond area to come together as families, service groups, churches, coworkers or individuals to ready ourselves for the worldwide stage and make a difference in our communities,” said Mike Baum, executive director of Keep Virginia Beautiful, a sponsor of the cleanup effort.

Other sponsors include the Mayor’s Participation Action and Communication Team (MPACT); the city’s Neighbor to Neighbor Program; the Clean City Commission; and several businesses, including Lowe’s and the Altria Group.

The second round of the blitz will take place Friday, Sept. 11, and Saturday, Sept. 12.

Additional details: Darlene Mallory at (804) 646-8325 or Mike Baum at (804) 665-2908.