Friday, June 13, proved anything but unlucky for the 15 volunteers who gathered in front of Foot Traffic to receive instructions and cleanup kits from Angela Frome, BWNA’s coordinator of this neighborhood “spring cleaning” event, and John Steup, the City of Portland’s graffiti abatement coordinator. Not only did they get to partake of donuts and refreshing beverages, but they also got to keep their “swag” of a five-gallon bucket, trash grabbers, safety glasses, gloves, and graffiti removal kits to take home to help in continuing their local cleanup efforts.
The group formed into five teams that dispersed to all four points on the compass to sweep, pick-up, spray, and scrub their way to helping our neighborhood shine just a little bit brighter. Decked out in BWNA-provided safety vests, they encountered many encouraging words of thanks as they made their way up and down the main streets of NE 42nd, NE 41st, and Fremont.
After a little more than an hour, the many buckets full of dirt, grime, and trash stood as a testament to the efforts of these dedicated neighbors. Stay tuned to this newsletter and monthly email updates for news of additional beautification and other events sponsored by BWNA.
Special thanks to the City of Portland’s graffiti removal specialist and to those who donated supplies, including Adopt One Block and Home Depot.