Residents can help collect litter and debris from the tops of storm drain water inlets throughout the township.
Marlton residents might be familiar with spring cleaning, but now they’re going to have the chance to try their hand at some fall cleaning as well.
On Saturday, Sept. 30, Evesham Township is inviting residents to participate in the Evesham Township Community-wide Clean-up Event.
From 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., residents can volunteer to collect and remove litter and debris from the tops of storm drain water inlets throughout various neighborhoods.
To sign up, residents can contact Evesham Township Clean Communities Coordinator Debbie Pease and pick a location where they’d like to volunteer.
“When it goes down in the storm drains, it goes right into the community,” Pease said. “We’re swimming in lakes and fishing in ponds, and it really affects our community and our water system as a whole.”
According to Pease, even 15 minutes of volunteer service from a resident can make a difference, so the township is inviting as many residents as possible to do what they can, where the can.
“I always advertise that even 15 minutes would help. Even if you can only do the storm drains outside your home, that’s fine,” Pease said.
Pease said residents who participate in the cleanup are also invited to the Evesham Fire-Rescue station on Main Street after the event to enjoy refreshments provided by local businesses and talk about their cleanup experience.
“We’re just hoping to do as much as we can for the community and bring us all together to benefit our community,” Pease said.
In prior years, Pease said the event has attracted up to 110 members of the community, and the project can also count toward community service younger residents may need for organizations such as Boy Scouts or National Honor Society.
The cleanup event at the end of the month is similar to other Clean Communities initiatives in the township residents might be familiar with, such as the annual cleanup day held in Black Run Preserve in the southern section of town where volunteers work to undo years of illegal dumping from the area.
The New Jersey Clean Communities program provides townships with mini-grants to help beautify areas through cleanup work through funds from various taxes on businesses that produce litter-generating products.
According to the Clean Communities website, about $20 million is dispersed through the program each year, with municipalities receiving about 80 percent and the remaining funds split between counties and state parks.
This year, Pease said she also plans to attend the Evesham Harvest Fest, where’s she’ll have environmental trivia questions for visitors to answer for the chance to win small prizes.
“I’m trying to gear it a bit toward children, because I feel like they’re our future,” Pease said.
Those with questions about the upcoming Evesham cleanup event or those looking to register can contact Pease at the Evesham Public Works department at (856) 983–2798 ext. 6911 or through peased@evesham-nj.gov.
