Weather doesn’t keep volunteers away from cleanup day
Cleaning up on Morgan Run Road beginning at the Animal Shelter was the group of Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Marianne Austin)
This time of year when spring is finally here and the snow has melted people are reminded of what lays beneath, lots of litter. Light rain and 40 degree temperatures didn’t stop volunteers from coming out for the Big Coshocton Cleanup on April 9.
Participants met on the court square for instructions and trash bags then headed out to clear the downtown, high traffic areas like Morgan Run and Otsego, the fairgrounds and Himebaugh Park.
“We are really grateful to everyone who showed up because it’s not been a great weather day,” said Lyn Mizer director of the United Way. “I would say there were at least 100 people here. People came early and they were ready to get moving. They grabbed their bags and bottles of water and headed out.”
This is the 18th year for Cleanup Coshocton.
“We partner with the city and other sponsors like the Soil and Water who provided our T-shirts, Kyle Libby provided donuts and water and Kimble’s have a dumpster at the fairgrounds for people to bring furniture and appliances and the Boy Scouts will be there for assistance,” Mizer said. “It’s a great day for families to come and a lot of families did come. We had a lot of little ones here this morning. Max Crown the city safety service director found areas that were appropriate for little ones. We have a large group from the Church of Latter Day Saints. They are all 17 or older and they are doing Morgan Run. It’s a high traffic area but it is badly in need of a cleanup. It’s cool to drive around and see these orange bags and although it represents litter that people have improperly disposed of it also represents people having ownership over Coshocton because people love Coshocton, and they want to see it shine.”
This was the first time for 6-year-old Brantley McHenry to help in the cleanup. In spite of the damp weather Dad Calvin said they were doing fine, and his son would get to see Sonic at the movies later and that would be his reward for helping.
Nathan Gibson was picking up litter on Main Street with his children son Zeke and daughter Adalyn. “I like to be involved,” Nathan said. “I like to show them that they need to give back and it’s good for them. It builds good character. I’m trying to do things I would have liked to have done when I was a kid.”
Cleaning up on Morgan Run Road beginning at the Animal Shelter was the group of Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “All of these young people are not from Ohio,” said Lynn Jacobs, branch president. “Some are from Utah, Idaho, Texas, Bolivia and they are serving an 18 month or two year mission. They have been assigned to Columbus and they paid for their own Mission for two years. Elder Louis and Elder Keith are serving right here in Coshocton.”
Category: People & Places
