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Great American Cleanup
Volunteers gathered Saturday to remove trash, debris throughout Youngstown
BY ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
YOUNGSTOWN
Spring cleaning isn’t just for homes. During the Great American Cleanup of Youngstown on Saturday, volunteers came together to clean up trash and other debris throughout the city.
Green Youngstown offers cleanup supplies including garbage bags, recycling bags, trash grabbers, bottled water, gloves and T-shirts to volunteers.
Volunteers clean up parts of the city, and the city’s street department picks up the trash and recyclable items collected.
Karen Humphries of Youngstown, program coordinator with the Garden District Neighborhood Association, said a group from that area helps every year. The Garden District is the lower West Side of the city. Its boundaries are Mahoning Avenue to the north, Mill Creek MetroParks to the south, Belle Vista Avenue on the west and Fellows Riverside Gardens to the east.
“We clean up our whole neighborhood,” she said.
Kids in the neighborhood help. The group made a day of it, following up cleaning with pizza and the kickoff of a children’s garden program at Fellows Riverside Gardens. About 30 people signed up to help.
The kids “look forward to it,” Humphries said. “They get the T-shirts from Green Youngstown, and they’re thrilled with that. It’s just a time that they all come out, look forward to. It’s one time that they all meet and do something good.”
The group is grateful for the supplies offered by Green Youngstown, she said.
Spring is a good time to do the cleanup, she added.
“This time of year is nice because it’s cooler out,” she said. “And
in spring, after the winter, it’s a mess. You see all the trash after that snow melted; it’s a mess.”
Every spring, Green Youngstown offers three ways to clean up the city on one day.
“Today is our biggest event of the year,” said Jennifer Jones, Green Youngstown litter control coordinator.
Along with the citywide cleanup is a tire-recycling drive and a small appliance collection. The tires and small appliances, such as washers, dryers, dehumidifiers and air conditioners, are recycled.
“So it’s three different ways people can help the environment and help their community all at the same time,” Jones said.
“It’s really great to do them all at once,” Jones said. “It’s very convenient for most people.”
Between 250 and 300 people were expected to help with the cleanup.
“There are cleanups going on every side of town,” she said.
Jones also expected to collect about 4,500 tires and 17,000 to 20,000 pounds of small appliances.
Green Youngstown will have an electronics drive for city residents May 30.