Still time to volunteer for April 30 community clean-up

Date: 4/26/2022

AMHERST – The Amherst Community Participation Officers (CPO) are hosting a Community Clean-Up Day in coordination with a post-cleanup celebration hosted by the Amherst Business Improvement District on April 30.

The trio of CPO members are town staff Angela Mills, Jennifer Moyston and Communications Manager Brianna Sunryd. The first Community Clean-Up Day was intended to be an annual event starting in 2019, but Sunryd said COVID-19 forced a brief hiatus. This year’s clean-up will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the celebration on the Town Common afterward will feature live music, magic shows, local beer and wine, games and more from 1 to 5 p.m.

“There had been other similar events in Amherst in the past but 2019 was the first for the newly created participation officer team,” Sunryd said. “Amherst town councilors, the Department of Public Works, other town staff, community groups and volunteers all helped to make the Community Clean-Up possible in 2019.”

Volunteers will be divided among three rally points which will have a team of captains equipped with supplies and a limited amount of work gloves and eye protection, so participants are encouraged to bring their own. Volunteers should also consider bringing water bottles, sun protection and other personal items. The rally points are strategically spread across Amherst at Groff Park, Jones Library and Mill River Recreation Area.

“Volunteers are asked to report to one of these checkpoints to receive area assignments or can come with their own areas in mind,” Sunryd said.

“Registration has been strong so far, with some signing up for themselves or family up to larger community-based groups. We have received over a dozen clean-up suggestions via our crowdsourced map so far.”

Visit www.engageamherst.org/cleanup2022 to register or add a suggestion to the crowdsourced map. Any questions can be directed to the community participation officers at getinvolved@amherstma.gov.