Community pride brings volunteers to Clean-Up Coshocton
Boy Scouts from Pack 409 cleaned up the area behind the plaza during Clean-Up Coshocton. The scouts are, left to right, Leader Jim McCoy, Anthony Wilkins, Rhett Reynolds, Landon Williams, Reed Shroyer and Daniel Wilkins.
COSHOCTON – Residents of all ages gathered at the gazebo on the court square on Saturday, April 22 for the 13th annual Clean-Up Coshocton Day, sponsored by United Way of Coshocton County, in cooperation with the City of Coshocton and the Coshocton County Recycling & Litter Prevention Office. Volunteers were provided with gloves, bright orange trash bags, coffee, water and doughnuts. As they signed in, each group of volunteers was assigned an area to clean up.
Delia Meek, Tina Stoffer and Susan Turner are members of the United Way board. They were the smiling faces that greeted each volunteer who signed in. As chilly as the morning was, their laughter and friendliness made everyone feel welcome and appreciated. They signed in family groups, church groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4H’ers and groups of people who work together.
Lyn Mizer, director of the United Way, said the United Way always has a “Day of Caring.” Because the so many people associate the organization with giving money, the “Day of Caring” program was started. “It is a day that we give back to the community and don’t ask for anything. A Clean-Up Day is a great way to bring everyone together and we chose this day each year to coincide with Earth Day,” said Mizer. United Way members roll up their sleeves and join other volunteers to spruce up the community.
Jeff Wherley is the program manager for the Coshocton Recycling and Litter Program. He said, “I am always impressed at how this clean up day has been sustained for so many years. Many times, after a year or two, volunteers stop coming.” Coshocton volunteers return year after year. Wherley said that once the snow melts, the trash becomes more obvious, so a group decided to try a clean-up day and see how it went. The tradition to choose a Saturday close to Earth Day has continued.
Matt and Amy Skarke were assigned the area of Locust Street, near the old Stone Container. “We just wanted to help the community. We are very proud of our community and wanted to help clean it up,” said Matt. Many families feel that bringing their children to help clean up the community is a great lesson. It has an impact on them and may help the child think before throwing trash on the ground. Barb Snyder is a science teacher and brought her daughter, Ari, 7, to help pick up trash. She feels this is teaching her daughter lessons in responsibility and how recycling helps the earth.
Boy Scout Pack 409, which meets at the West Lafayette United Methodist Church, was assigned an area behind the Downtowner Plaza. Five scouts and several adults filled several orange trash bags. Jim McCoy, leader, said the pack does service projects and this one was chosen as a way to support the United Way because the United Way does so much for scouting.
Volunteers were told to leave their full bags near the street and Coshocton City workers would pick them up.
Category: Multimedia, People & Places, Photo Galleries
