Adopt-a-Street Volunteers Provide Ongoing Street Cleanup
Dec 31, 2020 12:01PM ● By Cynthia Whitty
Girl Scout Troop 75356 clean the grounds of the Ashland Community Center last fall. (Photo/Andrew Klay, AHS Student)
Cub Scouts Dens 2 and 8 (“Webelo 1”) clean Gryncel Field in October.(Photo/Andrew Klay, AHS Student)
Ashland resident Brett Jackson is the primary organizer for the Adopt-a-Street program. She joined GUA in 2019 and is responsible for organizing the program. (Photo/supplied)
The GreenUp Ashland (GUA) committee—volunteers who organize the annual, town-wide cleanup usually held in the spring—also coordinates an ongoing Adopt-a-Street cleanup program.
“The program encourages residents and businesses to take pride in their town, as well as be active participants without a huge amount of time commitment,” Jeanne Walker, a GUA committee member said.
Though residents can sign up anytime, adoption clean-up periods generally run from spring to early fall depending on access to roadside litter due to weather conditions. GUA provides participants special Adopt-a-Street yellow bags during the cleanup months. The participants leave the bags in designated locations where the Department of Public Works (DPW) picks them up or they place the bags in with their weekly trash pickup.
“We presently have 35 adopters, including individuals and families,” Walker said. “Adopt-a-Street student clean ups can be used as community service time for Ashland High School students, too.”
“We want to recognize the efforts this past year of the many volunteers from throughout town. These volunteers help keep liter off the streets throughout the year,” Walker noted.
For more information or to sign up to participate in the Adopt-a-Street program, visit www.greenupashland.org/adopt-a-street or the Facebook GreenUp Ashland page.
Clean-up During Covid
GUA committee members along with 46+ residents, using Covid protocols, took to the streets in October to participate in the annual GreenUp Ashland event.
Typically, the town wide cleanup occurs the first Saturday in May. Due to the pandemic, the event was delayed until the fall. According to volunteer Karyn Dann-Barboza, a GUA member, said, “GreenUp Ashland got creative and had all the signups done online, and with the help of some other volunteers, distributed 63 GreenUp Ashland bags to participants.”
“The cleanup involved some wonderful organizations, like the Ashland Lions Club and Workmen’s Circle Group, as well a few cub and girl scout troops,” Dann-Barboza reported. “Last year also involved Ashland High School students who worked for community service hours. In total, 44 locations around town were cleaned up.”
Discussions are underway for the 2021 town wide cleanup. Follow updates on Facebook @GreenUpAshland or on the website, www.greenupashland.org.
