WestSide Stride’s Dash For Trash Carries Serious Weight.
The Dash for Trash Event was a huge success. The nimble crew of 20 folks went out for 25 minutes and collected 131.6 pounds of garbage, 1000+ cigarette butts, a unique lamb cut out, and even snapped a staged photo of a really funny “back alley bar.”
We’re always trying to spin a new idea for the WestSide Stride. For the week of Earth Day we did a timed trash collection or a “plogging event” - picking up trash while jogging. Being a timed event it made it more like a sprint between each litter bug spotted!
I never really know how our events will be received because with each year brings new people and my hope to level up from the previous year. Two years ago, folks were very hesitant to attend the event. However, after the trash collection, a regular member named Gail said to me, “I really thought this event was going to stink, but it was a lot of fun - thanks for putting this on!” These are the comments that drive me.
I love event planning and feeling connected to our community. It brings me joy to bring people together and as long as the community offers support (keeps showing up!) I’m going to keep doing these events.
At the Dash for Trash 2021 I had the privilege to see an old high school classmate, catch up with some WestSiders that are leading the Fans of Valley Field Movement (Check out what they are doing here), and support Fratellis Kitchen and Bar - a local WestSide business. Everything about the WestSide Stride feels good to me.
Huge thanks to the City of Grand Rapids for donating Trash Bags and gloves! Also we can’t thank Mary Trendt enough for picking up the trash the following day and for judging the contest.
Winners this year:
Trashy-ish Photo AKA Best Photo with Trash - Paul Soltysiak, Steve Schelling & Andy Maier.
Most Cigarette Butts Collected - Leslee L Fritz & Mary Trendt
Most Poundage Collected - Jay O’neal & Nick Savara
Most Unique Trash Found - Brenton Kilroy & Christina Fong
131.6 pounds of trash was collected! Woohoo!
Brenton Kilroy weighing the trash on the scale.
Thank you everyone for your continued support! Please see more photos here.
The WestSide Stride Meets Weekly April through October and once a month the rest of the year. We hope to have you join us. Please join our facebook group.
Jes Slaydon
VP Swift Printing
