Over 1600 volunteers are expected at the 12th annual Pick up and Walk clean-up event in Steinbach taking place Saturday, May 6, 2017. “The numbers go up each year and we are hoping for another record number of volunteers this year,” explains Grace Hiebert, organizer of the event and one of the pastors from Steinbach’s Southland Church. “It is incredible to experience 1600 people picking up over 8 tons of garbage in just 3 hours and all in a city of only 15,000. I encourage every city and town in Canada to organize a day each year to get some exercise and clean up their community.”
The event is organized through 20 Steinbach Churches with a church leader recruiting volunteers in his or her church. “It is a wonderful feeling to be unified as a city and have all of the various churches serve harmoniously together helping to make our city a better place to live”, Hiebert said. Reverend Melissa Frankland, associate pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran explains why she leads a team to pick up garbage each year, “It is such a joy to work together lovingly showing one another the importance of being good stewards by caring for God’s creation. And even though Pick up and Walk is only a one day event, I hope it will remind all of us about the importance of caring about the communities in which we live.”
Last year, close to 1,600 people picked up 8.2 tons of garbage along city streets, ditches, parks and along all main highways leading into the city, saving the city approximately $40,000. Volunteers include those picking up garbage, truck drivers who pick up filled bags along the routes, and those who prepare and serve the free barbecue lunch for all participants. Many local businesses donate funds to cover expenses or supply food for the barbeque.
To get involved in the event, sign-up at your local Steinbach church or come to the T.G Smith Arena in Steinbach on Saturday, May 6th at 9 am. Everyone is welcome to participate. Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen, Manitoba’s Minister of Health, and Steinbach’s Mayor Chris Goertzen will be kicking off the event. From there, volunteers will be dispatched in groups of 6-10 and will be supplied with maps, routes, sterile gloves, and garbage bags. People are encouraged to wear rubber boots, your bright yellow safety t-shirt from last year, and to dress for the weather. A thank you, complimentary barbeque lunch will be provided at the arena at noon.
