Mayor Jerry Dyer joined 1,641 volunteers taking part in a total of 102 group and individual cleanup projects across the city this morning as his Beautify Fresno initiative celebrated the inaugural Mayor’s Citywide Community CleanUP Day. Nearly 16,625 pounds of trash and litter were removed from streets, parks, and riverfronts within a two-hour period, covering almost every area of Fresno.
In addition to hundreds of volunteers serving at four hub locations in Downtown, Central, Southeast and West Fresno, residents were encouraged to choose an area of special importance to them and clean it on their own, whether by themselves or in groups ranging in size up to 50 people. Beautify Fresno provided all the cleanup materials for the event, which volunteers could keep to use whenever they want.
Beautify Fresno is one of the Mayor Jerry Dyer’s top priorities with a mission to inspire everyone to take pride in their city and to show the community that we can all take action to make Fresno a cleaner, greener, more beautiful place to live. “How we care for our City is reflected in the way we keep it clean,” said Mayor Dyer. “It has been my priority to make Fresno a more beautiful place to live. Thousands of residents are joining me in this mission. I am so grateful to see we are becoming litter free in many areas. It’s been wonderful to see the pride in Fresno restored through taking ownership in an initiative so rewarding!”
The Mayor’s Citywide Community CleanUP Day was sponsored by Amazon, Producers Dairy, Mid Valley Recycling, Embarc Fresno, Allbritten Heating and Cooling, Affinity Truck Center, Vista Consulting, Manchester Center, Fresno Grizzlies, Fresno Street Eats, Keep California Beautiful, and the City of Fresno.
The hub cleanup projects were made possible through the support of some of Fresno’s top organizations and businesses, including the Downtown Fresno Partnership, Fresno Metro Ministry, the Better Blackstone Association, Every Neighborhood Partnership and the Refinery Church West. Other projects had specific interests. The McLane High School football team, family and boosters picked up trash in the area surrounding the school. 50 people in kayaks and other watercraft joined the River Tree Volunteers to pick up litter that had accumulated in and along the San Joaquin River.
Businesses also stepped up to answer Mayor Dyer’s call to service. U.S. Cold Storage employees removed almost 500 pounds of garbage around their business in the industrial area of Southwest Fresno. Caltrans joined the spirit by hosting its own separate cleanup up project that saw 30 of their employees working along State Route 41 between Bullard and Shields between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. today to pick up trash off the highway.
Following the completion of the cleanup and beautification projects, participants were invited to an outdoor “thank you” rally in the Manchester Center parking lot from 11:00 am. – 1:00 p.m. with food trucks from Fresno Street Eats, music and activities.
Beautify Fresno follows guidance from our national advisors at Keep America Beautiful, as well as all health and safety protocols from the CDC and the Fresno County Department of Public Health. Safety vests, paper pickers, gloves and trash bags, along with pre-packaged snacks and bottled water will be provided to volunteers.
Follow Beautify Fresno on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @beautifyfresno or visit our website www.beautifyfresno.org.
