What started as one man's effort to clear dumped furniture and rubbish in south Houston has grown into a 100-person volunteer campaign to clean up historically underserved neighbourhoods.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
Andrew Beaver, 37, began clearing abandoned lots and alleyways in November, without having any experience running an organisation. Today, his nonprofit named Clean the Block organises group cleanups across neighbourhoods like Sunnyside and Third Ward, filling high trucks with illegally dumped waste.
"I grew up thinking, ‘Trash is disgusting. Someone should do something about it,’" said Beaver, a real estate investor who manages local properties. "But I’m in this area, I invest here, and if it’s giving so much to me, I wanted to find a way to give back."
As reported Houston Chronicle, a recent Sunday cleanup in Sunnyside brought together about 100 volunteers. Armed with walkie-talkies and heavy gloves, participants cleared narrow alleyways, nearby streets, creeks and vacant lots while listening to music from portable speakers.
Building momentum online and on foot
The Sunday cleanup gained support through a partnership with Sole Ties Run Club, a local running group that combines fitness with community service.
Robel Yemane, co-founder and president of Sole Ties, said social media posts showing Beaver's daily cleanups helped attract an unusually large crowd.
“You’re more likely to impact the community you live in by pouring back into the people,” said Yemane. “You have all these beautiful homes, and when there’s trash everywhere, it makes people feel like the neighborhood isn’t being served properly.”
The social media campaign turned online followers into volunteers. Emma Kremowski, 25, joined after seeing the project on Instagram.
“I’m a big fan of community initiatives,” Kremowski said. “It’s hard not to be involved in some way with everything going on. We’ve got to show that we care.”
For residents living near places where rubbish is regularly dumped, the community effort is making a real difference. Emily Wroczynski, a Third Ward resident, said people often dump trash in empty lots.
“It feels like you’re doing something that actually makes a difference,” Wroczynski added about her decision to volunteer.
