Downtown Brooksville is more than just a home for Andrea Read.

“My family came here in 1851,” the native Brooksvillian told Spectrum Bay News 9's Katya Guillaume.

It’s her birthplace and a place she’s also raising her kids. “It’s always been small-town type feel, everybody kinda knows everybody.”

Looking around her hometown, she said as the small quaint town is growing, it’s important to help preserve its charm and keep it beautiful.

“The historic district and what it is," she added, "It’s really important to preserve what we have and to take care of what we have because there’s not a lot of it.” 

Read is strapping on her ball cap, putting on her gloves, and is helping clear out the streets in the area.

“I’m so proud of this place and it makes me so happy to be here. I want other people that come here to see what I see when they come here.” 

She said once the weeds and trash along the main roads are all picked up, visitors will indeed love the area. It's a project led by two Brooksville city council members.

“Seeing that David Bailey and Blake Bell want to be involved and want to help spearhead and take an active role in that is very encouraging," she said.

That’s how it starts, Read mentioned, local officials showing interest in wanting to keep Brooksville beautiful for generations. 

“If I can make a difference and be a part of that then that’s very important to me to be able to contribute to the overall well-being and keeping of Brooksville.” 

Anyone wanting to help beautify Brooksville can sign up on the Brooksville Facebook page.

Participants are asked to show up at the courthouse on August 21 at 8 a.m. with gloves. Snacks will be provided.