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 They
covered areas such as Woodlawn Road coming into town, North Kickapoo
near the Motel 6 and Generations Nursing Home, Limit Street coming
in from Mount Pulaski, Illinois Route 10 coming in from Clinton,
Lincoln Parkway around town, and Stringer Avenue coming off of
Lincoln Parkway and working toward the Mill on Route 66.
The day
began at 8 a.m. with registration and assignment to one of seven
buses that were loaned by various organizations including Park
Meadows Church, Open Arms Fellowship, and Community Action
Partnership of Central Illinois. Each person registering was
assigned to a bus that would deliver him or her to a specific
location. Once out of the bus, gloves were worn and trash bags were
filled at a surprisingly fast rate.
Before
heading out, volunteers were treated to sweets from Mel-O-Cream and
hot beverages. As the nine o’clock hour approached Pastor Tony Shuff,
director of the local Salvation Army, offered a prayer for a safe
and productive day, then everyone headed out.
Also at
the park was a large map of the city, provided by the local boy
scouts. Turner said the boy scouts had asked that they be permitted
to set up the map and provide information about an “Adopt-A-Block”
program they are working to establish.
The concept of adopt a block is very simple. The Boy Scouts are
encouraging everyone to adopt the block where they live. All one has
to do is once a week or so, grab up a trash bag and go for a walk
around your immediate area. As you enjoy your walk, pick up the
trash you see lying in the street or gutters.
At 11 a.m. buses began collecting the workers, and pick-up trucks
filled with full trash bags made their way to a collection bin on
the city property across from the park. The bin, provided by Area
Disposal proved to be no match for the large quantity of trash
collected by volunteers.
While
bags were being thrown into the dumpster, volunteers were keeping
count. At the park, a goal had been set to collect 150 bags of
trash, and volunteers were keeping track and were happy to see that
the collection day had blown that goal right out of the water.
In Latham Park, Nuthatch Hill BBQ was setting up with pulled pork
sandwiches, chips, drinks, and dozens and dozens of cookies. A hand
cleaning station was set up for volunteers to wipe off the germs and
grim before enjoying their meal.
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People gathered around enjoying their meal also talked among
themselves about the number of bags collected. They had been
amazed by some of the things that people threw out along the
sides of the road. Volunteers reported finding everything from
tires and hubcaps, to fast food bags, uneaten food, pop cans and
bottles, cardboard boxes, and even drug paraphernalia such as
injection needles.
Others
spoke about how quickly they filled bags. One illustration of that
was seen along Stringer Avenue where filled trash bags were left
alongside the road for the pick-up trucks that were following behind
workers. On that street, filled bags were being left every few feet.
When Turner returned to the park he was very happy and excited about
what the group had accomplished in a two hour period. He had planned
the event to be productive, and yet not take up the entire day of
all the volunteers. He noted that even after collecting all those
bags of trash, there were still areas that the volunteers did not
make it to, but he was very pleased with what had been done.
Turner
said that getting the day organized had been a challenge, but that
it was worth it and he would be happy to see a Spring Clean-up event
every year from here on out. He noted this was Earth Day weekend, a
fitting time to get out and clean up around our town.
Along with all the volunteers, the Spring Clean-up Day was supported
by local businesses and organizations who offered donations of food
for breakfast, bottled water, trash bags, gloves and transportation.
Set up near the registration table was a large poster expressing
thanks to all the sponsors for those donations. Volunteers were also
encouraged to sign that poster to commemorate their participation in
the day.
Sponsors named on that poster included AAA Siding & Windows, Lincoln
IGA, Chris Coyne State Farm, Area Disposal, Flossie & Delzena’s,
Visual Ink Productions, CAPCIL, Mel-O-Cream, Bee’s Landscaping, Open
Arms Fellowship Church, Park Meadows Baptist Church, Eaton, Super 8
Motel, and Nuthatch Hill BBQ.
[Nila Smith]
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