The township is once again asking locals to volunteer a few hours of their time to remove litter and other debris from the tops of storm drains.
With all the rain Evesham has experienced recently, now might seem like the perfect time for some good Samaritans to head out and remove any debris blocking the tops of storm drains in the township.
Luckily for those looking to help, Evesham Township already has an event scheduled where volunteers can do just that.
Saturday, Oct. 13, will mark this year’s fall Community-wide Clean-Up event, where the township is once again asking locals to volunteer a few hours of their time to remove litter and other debris from the tops of storm drains throughout neighborhoods across Evesham Township.
This year’s event is scheduled to take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and as with past events, residents can volunteer to cleanup the area just outside their home, or they can contact the township to pick another area in need of attention.
Either way, signing up to help during the event only requires contacting the Evesham Township Clean Communities coordinator to select a specific location to help clean.
In past years, volunteers have included residents simply looking to do their part to keep Evesham clean, as well as younger residents looking for community services hours, such as those in Boy Scouts or National Honor Society.
Some years have attracted more than 100 volunteers, and following this year’s cleanup on Oct. 13, various local businesses will once again be providing refreshments for volunteers at the Evesham Fire Department’s Main Street Firehouse starting at noon.
According to township officials, even just 15 minutes of volunteering can help make a difference in the cleanup, so all residents looking to help are encouraged to volunteer.
This cleanup event, similar to other cleanup events held in the township throughout the year, is part of the New Jersey Clean Communities program.
According to the Clean Communities website, the program is funded by a state tax on various types of businesses that may produce litter and litter-generating products. With those taxes, the program generates about $20 million each year, 80 percent of which is then distributed to municipalities in the state to use for litter-abatement programs.
Under Clean Communities guidelines, aspects of those programs must include cleanup, enforcement and education related to litter-abatement.
Also as required by guidelines, municipalities and counties must file annual reports to track the progress of local programs and the use of funds.
For more information on the upcoming Community-wide Clean-Up event in Evesham Township on Oct. 13 or to register to volunteer, contact the Evesham Township Clean Communities coordinator at the Evesham Public Works department at (856) 983–2798 or through publicworks@evesham-nj.gov.
For more information about the New Jersey Clean Communities Program, visit www.njclean.org.
