Holgate Boulevard has an annual cleanup, and after the day is over, some full bins are hauled out.
If this year’s Trash Day is any indication, residents of Creston Kenilworth have been doing a big cleanup lately. Our annual neighborhood cleanup on Saturday, October 8 brought in more trash, recyclables and reusables than ever before.
An estimated 100 vehicles began lining up along SE Holgate Boulevard well before the 10am start time. Volunteers helped unload these cars and trucks into his three high-capacity bins that stretched across the Tucker-Maxon School just east of SE 28th Avenue. By 11:30 am, the trash can was full.
It was 120 cubic yards of junk destined for a landfill that didn’t need to be moved by individual residents.
Elizabeth McPherson, president of the Creston-Kenilworth Neighborhood Association (CKNA), said she’s never seen a trash can fill up so quickly. “We definitely need to look at how we can expand our capacity next year,” she reflected.
That’s not all. CKNA also collected six sofa-sized bags of Styrofoam to recycle.
Then there were reusable household items. “We sent a truckload of furniture and household items to Habitat for Humanity to restore!” McPherson told THE BEE.
Nearby, volunteers from SOLVE, a nonprofit that cleans up trash, handed out reflective vests, gallon bags, gloves and “reacher sticks” to 12 neighbors who signed up to collect trash from the surrounding streets. came back with 20 bags full of garbage.
Sabrina Perry used her reach to pick up candy wrappers and cigarette butts while walking down Holgate Street with her dog, Loki. Over the last few years, she’s heard a lot of complaints about trash on Portland streets, and she didn’t like seeing it either.”Everybody has a right to complain,” Perry said. admitted.
Meanwhile, at the dump, drivers donated between $20 and $40 depending on the size of their luggage as they unloaded. As a result, CKNA raised him nearly $2,000. The cleanup is the group’s main fundraiser for the year, McPherson said, with all money received reinvested in community events such as movies at the park and neighborhood picnics.
Michael Sylvester has taken on the daunting task of lifting unusable furniture, appliances, and other large items into the trash can. He said more volunteers are always available for this annual cleanup and hopes next year more neighborhood residents will be able to participate and enjoy the fruits of their work. . “It’s just a way of giving back,” he explained. “Helping others is part of our duty as humans.”
We have received numerous comments from volunteers that they are glad they participated. “It’s so nice to get together with your neighbors and try to make your neighborhood better,” commented Kara Bredahl, who helped pick up trash that day.
The organizers seemed happy too. “It’s always a lot of fun! I get to meet my neighbors.”
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