Saturday was a rainy day but that did not stop volunteers from participating in Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a day of cleaning up the community.
About 130 volunteers from several local churches and other community organizations were part of the cleanup effort, spearheaded by the leadership at Grace Point Church with cooperation from the City of Galion.
Volunteers helped with drop-offs at the dumpsters and recycling trailers placed in Heise Park and East Park. Eight 40-yard dumpsters of trash, three 40-yard dumpsters of tires and two recycling trailers were filled, in addition to what city crews are currently working to pick up curbside. City crews will continue to work on those pickups over the next couple of days until everything has been collected.
Volunteers also went to homes that requested assistance with yard work or hauling junk items. Other groups planted flowers at the Uptowne Square and performed improvement projects at Heise Park.
Residents were appreciative of the help. Some even cried. Natalie Tyrell Martin sent the City a message through Facebook: “A crew helped my mom out a lot today. She had a wonderful experience. Thank you so very much.”
Rick Mangette was part of the group that helped at the Heise Park bandshell. He also wrote on the City Facebook page: “Thanks to all who dedicated their time and talents to clean, paint, weed, and landscape the band shell at Heise Park. Thank you to Jinny at Grace Point Methodist, Dan at the street department, My Floors, Poland’s Hardware, Liberty Mill, MIA Ministries, and those praying for our communities.”
“From the City’s perspective, Saturday’s clean-up day was a tremendous success,” Acting Safety-Service Director Nikki Ward said. “It’s difficult to adequately express our appreciation for the overwhelming participation of the Galion Area Ministerial Association and Grace Point Church, all of their church volunteers, Scout troops and other community organizations who stepped up in such a big way. We’re so excited about the progress that was made in cleaning up the community and are already thinking of ways to make next year even bigger and better.”
