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Date: 4/5/2022
CHICOPEE – In celebration of Earth Day, the Chicopee Cultural Council will undergo a city-wide cleaning effort with the 2022 Clean Sweep event on April 23.
The gathering invites members of the committee to sign up for different cleaning projects throughout the city. The areas of interest include Aldenville, Burnett Road, Chicopee Center, Chicopee Falls, Fairview, Ferry Lane, Westover and Willmansett. Each of the cleanings will last from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m, and participants are encouraged to bring gloves.
Chicopee Cultural Council Chair Jeannette Rivera shared that the event initially began in 2021 after Cultural Council member Debra Sutherland inspired its creation. “She always envisioned us doing an event where folks go out and clean … We thought it was a brilliant idea to take ownership and clean up our community,” said Rivera.
The event also represented a platform for the Cultural Council to continue uniting community members during the pandemic. “It was something during the pandemic we felt we could do safely. It was nice to gather in an outdoor space,” said Rivera.
Rivera shared that the event featured a “large turnout” that doubled the initial sign up. This year will feature an expansion of Clean Sweep with additional cleaning captains and locations, according to Rivera.
The Cultural Council president said the event serves as a great meeting opportunity for neighbors, as well as a way for community members to take ownership of Chicopee.
“This clean up event is an opportunity for neighbors to get to know each other. There’s rarely opportunities we get to do that in our own neighborhoods and villages…You can come out, meet some neighbors and take some ownership of the place we call home,” said Rivera.
Clean Sweep partners the Cultural Council with the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce. The event is also sponsored by People’s Bank and Westover Trash Removal and Handy Man.
Readers interested in signing up for the cleaning project can visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1139940570140592/?
ref=newsfeed.