Asheville GreenWorks holds inaugural city-wide Neighborhood Cleanup Day April 18

From an Asheville GreenWorks press release:

Asheville GreenWorks holds inaugural city-wide Neighborhood Cleanup Day April 18

ASHEVILLE – Environmental nonprofit Asheville GreenWorks is working in collaboration with the City of Asheville and Neighborhood Advisory Committee to spruce up the town just in time for Earth Day.

Residents of every neighborhood are invited to the inaugural Asheville City Wide Neighborhood Cleanup Day with Asheville GreenWorks, which will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 18.

Many of Asheville’s neighborhoods, from Grove Park to Haw Creek, from South Slope to Shiloh and Enka to East West Asheville, have organized neighborhood associations. But whether formalized or not, Asheville residents will have the opportunity to participate in the City Wide Neighborhood Cleanup to meet their neighbors, help the Asheville environment and work together for the betterment of each individual neighborhood and the city as a whole.

The way it works: Neighborhoods will recruit volunteers and choose a Neighborhood Captain, who will come to Asheville GreenWorks, 318 Riverside Drive, Asheville, NC 28801, before April 18 to pick up cleaning supplies, safety vests, gloves and trash bags.

On April 18, the captain will distribute gear to neighborhood volunteers who will help clean up a street, a stream, a park, a roadside, a parking lot or other common area and sort trash and recyclables into separate bags, as well as clean out leaf debris from storm drains and curbsides.

There will be specially designated areas for trash collection on that day, or the trash can be placed in individual residential bins. Asheville City Sanitation will be in charge of trash and recyclables picked up that day.

“The Neighborhood Advisory Committee is delighted to co-sponsor the city-wide clean up event. This is a great way to involve citizens working together with their neighbors. One only has to look around the city to see how much this effort is needed,” said Elaine Poovey, Chair of the Neighborhood Advisory Committee. “Our committee continues to seek ways to bring neighborhoods together and the cleanup effort will improve the appearance of our beautiful city as we work together.”

Safety and working cooperatively will be stressed. Participants are encouraged to bring their own safety and cleanup gear, but Asheville GreenWorks will provide gear for the day.

“The cleanup is open to anybody, of any age, part of an organized group such as a scout group or a church group, or just families or individuals, who want to help clean up their neighborhoods,” said Dawn Chávez, GreenWorks Executive Director. “It’s removing litter but also leaf debris from storm drains to keep them clear to avoid flooding, to make Asheville neighborhoods clean and safe. It’s also a great way to meet your neighbors.”

At the April 14 City Council meeting, the council will proclaim April 18th the first annual city-wide neighborhood clean-up. “We want to honor the first city-wide neighborhood cleanup, and encourage all neighborhoods to participate,” said Chris Pelly, Asheville City Councilman and Liaison to the Neighborhood Advisory Committee.

More photos and fact sheets on traffic safety and trash vs. recyclables are available upon request. There will be many photo opportunities on the day of the Neighborhood Cleanup.

The Details:
What: Inaugural Asheville City Wide Neighborhood Cleanup Day with Asheville GreenWorks
When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 18
Where: Every Asheville neighborhood. Neighborhood captains will pick up gear at Asheville GreenWorks, 318 Riverside Drive, Asheville, NC 28801, for cleanup volunteers.
Who: Anybody, any age, part of an organized group or individuals, who wants to help clean up a street, a stream, a park, a roadside, parking lot, or other common area to remove litter and leaf debris.
More information: Contact Asheville GreenWorks at 828-254-1776 or volunteer@ashevillegreenworks.org
Sign-up: http://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/latest-news1/sign-up-your-neighborhood-for-the-great-asheville-buncombe-cleanup

About Asheville GreenWorks
Asheville GreenWorks is an urban environmental organization working to enhance the community through educational and volunteer-based environmental programs. With thousands of volunteers, we engage the community in grassroots projects such as tree plantings, environmental cleanups, anti-litter and waste reduction education, creation and maintenance of green spaces, neighborhood beautification and care and preservation of Asheville’s rivers and trees. www.ashevillegreenworks.org

About the Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC)
The committee was established to advise the City Council on neighborhoods within Asheville city limits.  The committee has set the following goals for their work in the community:
1.     Recommend strategies to improve Asheville’s neighborhoods.
2.     Facilitate communication and enhance collaboration among neighborhoods, city staff, boards and commissions.
3.     Strengthen neighborhood organizational development.
4.     Promote and celebrate neighborhoods.
For more information on NAC, call 828-259-5506.

GreenWorks Upcoming Events
April 24, 2015 – Arbor Day Planting and Celebration of 35 Years as a Tree City USA. French Broad River Park, 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
April 25, 2015 – Hard 2 Recycle Event, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., 161 S. Charlotte Street, Asheville