Moses Dixon of Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging on Planning a Spring Community Cleanup Day

A community with a clean environment is known for its positive reputation. The efforts of the residents and the town’s municipal services contribute to the uplifting atmosphere in each neighborhood. Although it’s important to maintain a regular clean-up program, the first clear spring weather can help motivate people to get involved. Here’s how to plan a spring community clean-up initiative.

Put Together a Diverse Group

One of the most effective ways to organize a cleanup is by asking people directly. If individuals don’t know the members of a particular group, they can reach out to their neighbors and friends for help. This method will allow them to connect with a key individual within the group and get involved. Volunteers are more likely to respond to requests to help if they come from people they trust.

Choose a Neighborhood

Before you start organizing a cleanup, it’s important that you thoroughly assess the size of the neighborhood and the number of people who can help. This can help determine the type of cleanup that will be carried out. Depending on how much debris needs to be cleaned, it can be a single block or a public space.

If you plan on organizing a cleanup program, it’s also important to include a public space cleanup. This can be a one-time event or a regular program to maintain a positive neighborhood environment. Volunteers will go out into the streets to clean the areas that everyone uses, not just the yards and alleys of their neighbors. This message will help make recruitment easier and encourage more people to get involved.

Finding Resources

Various types of resources can be used by a neighborhood group to help with its cleanup. These include money, in-kind contributions, and volunteers. If money is needed, it can be obtained from banks and local businesses.

A group can use in-kind resources to cover various expenses, such as equipment, employees, and the forgiveness of fees. Examples include donating services they usually would not be able to afford and collecting supplies from local businesses. Supplies such as food, paper goods, and beverages can be solicited from local supermarkets or shops.

Picking a Date

The cleanup should not conflict with holidays or be conducted in the worst weather. It should also be conducted at a time that allows the municipality to help. Ideally, the event should be held at a time when people are enjoying spending time outside.

The cleanup should be conducted in a large enough area to accommodate the number of individuals participating in the event. This can be done using a school parking lot, public building, or complex.

ABOUT MOSES DIXON OR WORCESTER, MA

Living and working in Worcester, Massachusetts, Moses Dixon is the CEO of the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging, who believes heavily in building and developing his community for the benefit of all of his neighbors.

Throughout his time building experience in professional development and community service, Moses Dixon has held a number of positions. He served as a Legislative Fellow with the United States Senate Diversity Initiative for more than a year in Washington D.C. serving the office of Senator Harry Reid, a role he continued as Senator Reid became the United States Senate Majority Leader. He also spent time as a Door Keeper for the United States Senate Deputy Sergeant at Arms from 2010 to 2011, serving the personal Office of U.S. Senate Deputy Sergeant at Arms Martina L. Bradford. He also assisted Sarai Rivera, a City Councilor in Worcester, Massachusetts, from 2012 to 2013, followed by time spent aiding Mary Keefe in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as her Legislative Aide from 2013 to 2014.