The Westside Clean Up 2024: A Community's Commitment to Environmental Stewardship
This year's Westside Clean Up was an absolute blast! As a supporter of the Westside community, I had this event marked on my calendar from the moment the date was set. There's something uniquely satisfying about joining hands with neighbors and friends to pick up trash and make our community a cleaner, greener place to live. And let me tell you, the amount of trash we collected in just a few short hours was just wild. I always think I don’t even see any trash and then you start looking for it and it’s everywhere.
2023 WestSide Clean Up Recap
There was more than 1,300 people registered for this years event. Huge thanks to Shelley Irwin, Rich App, Al Vanderberg, WOODTV, FoxNews, WZZM, GRPS and GR Connected for helping to spread the word about this city-wide initiative. Their support played a crucial role in mobilizing volunteers and raising awareness about this event. This event is about so much more than picking up trash. It’s about community spirit, grit and working together.
2022 WestSide Clean Up Recap
A major milestone for the Westside Clean Up was the successful partnership with the Rapid and Lime Scooter, which provided free bus rides and scooter rides to the after-party. This initiative not only encouraged more people to participate in the clean-up efforts but also underscored the event's broader commitment to green initiatives and sustainable transportation options.
For my family, the day began bright and early at 8:00 AM in Rockford, MI, where my son, Dax, had a soccer game. After cheering him on, we had an hour to spare before my other son's game, so we seized the opportunity to do some trash collection at the Freshman Center.
After wrapping up the soccer games, we continued our trash-collecting mission on the WestSide, making sure to leave no stone unturned. Then, as the morning turned to afternoon, we made our way to the after-party, where we eagerly volunteered at the registration table. It was heartwarming to see the community come together to celebrate our collective efforts and share in the spirit of camaraderie.
Thanks to the diligent planning of Sidney Sparks, the intern at WestGrand, participants had the chance to compete for adorable trash trophies for Most Bizarre, Funniest, Largest, and Most Valuable. The goal was to get more people engaged online as well as in person. And who doesn’t love the idea of winning a trash trophy. The judges for the contest were Erica and Brian Vanee. (The WestSide Clean Ups Founders)
Here are the winners from this year's competition:
Most Bizarre: Egg within an egg @kell_z0ne
Funniest: Christmas @roseandneedles
Largest: Tires and Trash by @goddessvalkyr
Most Valuable: Ear buds @Parks Walter
I want to extend a special thank you to our dedicated leaders, Annette, Monica, and Chi, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event a resounding success. Their unwavering commitment to honoring the founders and preserving the legacy of the Westside Clean Up is truly commendable.
In addition, I'd like to recognize the entire planning committee, which included:
Annette Vandenberg, Monica Hall, Chi Benedict, Kristina Colby, Lucas Leverett, Rhiannon Mulligan, Nathan Raubieri, Paul Soltysiak, Amanda Rachke, Tina Femeyer, Gregg Hampshire, Mitch Cook, Jessica Gutowski-Slaydon, Ellen Atkins, Amy Brower, Kendsie Channing, Emilio Zamarripa, Corey Mathein, Travis Kurtz, Andres Hernandez, Kelsey Juergens, Katy Hoffman, Lexi Newland, Champagne McConer, Keely Moriarty, Jenna Lyons, Kym Spring, Jennifer Victor, and Abylene Vargas-Leon.
This years starting locations included:
West Leonard @ WGNO - 754 Leonard St. NW #2
2: Stockbridge @ Lincoln Park - 1120 Bridge St. NW
3: West Fulton @ John Ball Zoo - 1300 W. Fulton
4: Southwest @ Cesar E. Chavez Elementary -1205 Cesar Chavez Ave. SW
5: West Downtown @ Ah-Nab-Awen Park - 220 Front Ave. NW
6: Las Canchas @ 250 Seward Ave. NW
7: Garfield Park @ GPNA - 250 Burton St. SE
8: Ken-O-Sha Park @ 1353 Van Auken St. SE
9: Highland Park @ 531 Grand Ave. NE
10: MLK Park @ 1200 MLK Jr. St. SE
11: Foster Park @ 343 Cherry St. SE
12: Creston @ Riverside Park - 2001 Monroe Ave. NE
13: Wilcox Park @100 Youell Ave. SE
14: Belknap/Monroe North @ 727 Coit Ave. NE
15: Boston Square @ BSNA - 1551 Kalamazoo Ave. SE1116. Sullivan Field @ 650 Valley Ave NW
After a rewarding couple hours of cleaning up our beloved community, participants are treated to a spectacular after-party at the zoo. The festivities include an array of attractions such as food trucks offering delicious fare, a bounce house for the kids to enjoy, refreshing drinks from Long Road Distillery, there were even crafts for the kids, and informative community service info booths. Best of all, attendees can indulge in all these activities at no cost, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors who have graciously covered the expenses. Here’sa list of all the sponsors who have made this event possible.
But the party doesn’t stop there. For volunteering, you also receive a zoo pass that grants free admission. The pass is good for one week. I am Zoo School Alumni, I had my wedding reception at the Bissell Tree House (at the zoo), and we’ve lived here for a decade, yet I never took my husband. (Oops! Sorry, Jake.) So the kids and I showed him all the ins and outs.
Whether you're a seasoned volunteer or a first-time participant, the Westside Clean Up offers a rewarding experience for everyone involved. For more information, feel free to reach out to mail@westgrand.org or me directly and I’ll put you in connect with the right person.
Thank you for your continued support, and here's to another successful year of making our community a better place to live.
