The first annual Great Wrentham Cleanup day will take place on April 28 from 9 a.m. to noon. Participants will fan out throughout the town’s precincts and pick up trash and debris, rain or shine, in honor of Earth Day.
Organized by Wrentham resident Donna Nye, the event is being co-sponsored by Keep Massachusetts Beautiful, a non-profit organization that collaborates with communities to clean up, beautify, and improve public spaces.
Nye, a local realtor and landscape professional, has lived in Wrentham for three years.
“I’ve seen trash build up and it doesn’t go away,” she said. “I spent most of my life outdoors. I really love nature and I think it’s a shame that there’s so much trash everywhere. Somebody has to do something about it.”
Participants are asked to meet at Wrentham’s Department of Public Works building, located at 360 Taunton Street, on cleanup day. Trash bags will be provided, but people are urged to bring gloves and wear long-sleeved shirts and pants. Grabbers are also suggested. Free t-shirts, for visibility, will be provided by Berkshire Hathaway.
Families with small children will be directed to safe areas, like parks and schools, to pick up litter.
Scouts and other youth groups in town are welcome to participate. Residents with pickup trucks are also needed, to help haul away big items.
Nye hopes to eventually establish a Wrentham chapter of Keep Massachusetts Beautiful, which would present opportunities for grants, training, and other support to help promote a greener community.
Regardless of her long-term goals, Nye thinks the cleanup day can simply be a way for individuals and families in town to connect with each other while helping beautify the community.
“Technology is taking over our lives,” she said. “I grew up outside. Kids are missing that, I feel. It’s really good to have face-to-face with your neighbor, or someone else you may not have met before. Kids and families are missing that community involvement we had growing up.”
Cleaning up Wrentham together is one way to strengthen that community spirit, believes Nye.
“I think it’s important,” she said. “I’m really hoping to make this a yearly event for the town.”
To sign up for the Great Wrentham Cleanup, or help sponsor the event, search for the Great Wrentham Cleanup on Facebook.
Issue Date:
April, 2018
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