If you’ve walked around town lately, or driven, or riden a bike or a bus, you’ve probably noticed litter on roadsides and even near storm drains. Events are being planned throughout the Quad Cities to do something about that, and you can help! Here’s several ways to get involved:
Saturday, April 17: Great American Cleanup in Moline
Volunteer organizations, neighborhood associations and residents are invited to get outdoors and do their part to make Moline clean and beautiful.
The clean-up event focuses on common areas shared by residents throughout Moline. Specifically, the areas cleaned are the rights-of-ways of city streets, drainage areas and neighborhood parks.
All residents are encouraged to pick up loose litter in their neighborhood and alley, but are not required to register. The City asks residents to add their litter bags to their regular garbage collection. Residents should note that regular pick-up limits still apply and only garbage that fits inside the cart will be collected. No special pick-ups will apply.
Sign up for this event to participate in an organized group clean-up event online at www.keepmolinebeautiful.org
Friday, April 30: 26th Annual Downtown Davenport Cleanup Day
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Pitch In! Help anytime or all day. Volunteers receive free admission to “Go Green Night” at Modern Woodmen Park Friday, April 30. Registration is required. Contact Marcy Hyder at 563-322-1706 or mhyder@iowaQCchamber.com. For more information visit www.downtowndavenport.com.
Saturday, May 1: Join Hands Day in Moline
Join Hands Day is the only national volunteer day that specifically targets and develops relationships between young people and adults through neighborhood volunteering. Youth and adult volunteers work together on an equal basis to plan, organize and implement the day’s activities. Building relationships across generations restores confidence, trust, and respect for each other and creates a sense of community. Sign up online at www.keepmolinebeautiful.org
Saturday, May 1: Downtown Rock Island Cleanup
Keep Rock Island Beautiful will partner with The District in collecting litter to enhance the appearance of downtown Rock Island. Keep Rock Island Beautiful plans and implements programs of education and awareness of litter control and recycling activities while promoting pride in Rock Island. They support and encourage citizens, businesses and organizations to share responsibility for keeping a healthy, safe and beautiful city. If you are interested in helping with this clean up, contact cfuller@keepribeautiful.org or call 786-1334.
Saturday, May 8: Great 2010 Garlic Mustard Challenge
Okay, so garlic mustard doesn’t really fit the definition of litter. However, garlic mustard is an invasive, noxious plant that threatens our native woodlands, natural areas & wildlife habitat. Help control it in our community by participating in the Challenge from 9 a.m. to noon! For more information visit www.extension.iastate.edu/scott.
Saturday, May 8: Bike Path Cleanup in Rock Island
To volunteer, contact Carolyn Fuller, Keep Rock Island Beautiful Executive Director at (309) 786-1334 or cfuller@keepribeautiful.org.
Saturday, May 15: Davenport Clean Sweep
Clean Sweep is a city-wide cleanup of Davenport, focusing primarily on neighborhood cleanups. The event is organized by the City of Davenport and United Neighbors. For more information and to volunteer, contact Bonnie at 322-7363 or bbeechum1@aol.com.
March & April: Living Lands & Waters needs your help
Preparing and planting trees is another great way to get outside and help our community and environment at the same time. Living Lands & Waters will be giving away 100,000 free oak seedlings in March & April as part of their MillionTrees Project! In order to give away healthy trees, they need volunteers to wrap the tree’s roots in a damp medium and place them in bags. Register to volunteer online at www.livinglandsandwaters.org or call Denise, Program Coordinator at 309-496-9848.
Saturday, March 27: Tree Planting at Nahant Marsh
You can even help plant some of the trees you helped wrap at Nahant Marsh on Saturday, March 27 from 9 a.m. – noon. For more information contact Brian Ritter at britter@eicc.edu or 563-323-5196.
