Participants of the Steinbach “Pick up and Walk” community clean-up event.
The 5th annual “Pick up and Walk” community clean-up event will take place Saturday, April 24, 2010, in Steinbach.
Hundreds have already signed up to help beautify the city. Families, church groups, co-workers, and friends will be walking through the community picking up garbage along the streets and in the ditches and parks while getting some much needed exercise after our very long winter.
Last year, close to 900 volunteers picked up over 7 tons of garbage. Grace Hiebert from the Southland Community Church, and one of the community organizers for “Pick up and Walk”, expects the numbers to reach 1000 at the event this year. “Last year 17 churches joined hands to organize this event. This year 20 churches are involved and this amazing show of solidarity is a great gift to the community of Steinbach. Local businesses have also stepped up to the plate and shown their support by their kind donations. We would like to thank Earl’s Meats, Bakeworld, Barkman Concrete, Canada Safeway, CT Loewen’s, Harvest Insurance, La Cocina Chips, Smith – Neufeld – Jodoin Law Offices, Sobeys, Steinbach Dodge, Steinbach Flooring, Superstore, Threeway Builders, W.S Machining and Fabrication and Royal Bank.
Chris Goertzen, mayor of the City of Steinbach, expressed his gratitude for the many people who have volunteered for this worth-while project. “Pick Up and Walk has become a great tradition in our city. It has been recognized by many other communities as a progressive way to build pride in our city through personal action. On behalf of council and our citizens, I want to thank the local churches for organizing this important community event.”
All “Pick up and Walk” volunteers will be meeting at the T.G Smith Arena in Steinbach on Saturday, April 24th at 9 am and everyone is welcome to participate. From there volunteers will be dispatched in groups of 6-10 and will be supplied with maps, routes, and garbage bags. People are encouraged to wear rubber boots, gloves and to dress for the weather. A thank you lunch will be provided, free of charge back, at the arena at noon. Rain date is the following Saturday, May 1st.
