Registration for May 16 Great American Cleanup available online
Neighborhood associations, businesses, faith-based organizations and other volunteer groups can now register online for the City of Fort Wayne's annual spring clean-up. The online registration form is available www.cityoffortwayne.org/greatamericancleanup.
The City is taking part in the national Great American Cleanup program, part of Keep America Beautiful.
Volunteers of all ages will focus on cleaning up litter and debris from the City's parks, roadways, trails and riverbanks. The City will provide groups with garbage bags, gloves and t-shirts.
“After the ice storm and now flooding and high water, we will have plenty of debris that needs to be picked up,” said Mayor Tom Henry. “These volunteers will provide an incredibly valuable service to our community. There's no way the City could ever afford to do the work that they will get done in with just a few hours that day. The clean-up is really fun, and we'll be sure to celebrate their efforts with a party at Headwaters.”
A post-cleanup party with food, music and raffle prizes for volunteers will be 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 16 at Headwaters Park.
For more information, people can call the Mayor's Public Information office at 427-1120. Registrations are due by April 10.
The Great American Cleanup is the country's largest beautification and community improvement project. It provides a high-profile platform for activities that meet specific local needs, including litter cleanups, litter prevention education, graffiti removal, beautification and community improvement projects, river cleanups, etc. Almost 3 million volunteers nationwide are expected to participate in the 2009 event.
In 2008, more than 3,600 people participated in Fort Wayne's Great American Cleanup. Volunteers picked up more than 87,000 pounds of litter and debris. They cleaned 42 miles of roadways, 1,300 acres of parks, 15 miles of trails and 19 miles of riverbanks.
The City has hosted the local Great American Cleanup for almost 20 years.
National sponsors for the Great American Cleanup are American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; ARM & HAMMER; Colgate-Palmolive Company; The Dow Chemical Company; GLAD Trash Bags; Pepsi-Cola Company; The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company; Solo Cup Company; Troy-Bilt Lawn and Garden Equipment; University of Phoenix; Waste Management, Inc.; Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.; and Educational Partner: Rubber Manufacturers Association.
