Pick up a bag and some gloves and help pitch-in for your community in a few days.
The Town of Innisfil’s annual Pitch-In Day will return May 11. From 9 to 11 a.m. that day, residents are invited to collect litter from road edges and ends, public trails and parks.
“Pitch-In Day is an integral part of spring in Innisfil,” Mayor Lynn Dollin said. “It’s a day for coming together and helping to beautify our town, and it wouldn’t be possible without the working group that organizes the event and the community members who join in year after year. Schools, businesses, family members, town staff — thank you to everyone who plays a role in making this day a success.”
She hopes to one day get to the point where Pitch-In is unnecessary, and residents avoid littering altogether.
However, the event has now grown to become part of the Great Global Cleanup, a movement driven by earthday.org to reduce plastic pollution worldwide.
Volunteers can grab clean-up kits at Innisfil Town Hall (2101 Innisfil Beach Rd.) and Innisfil ideaLAB and Library branches during operating hours. Throughout the designated clean-up time on May 11, kits can also be obtained at Innisfil Fire and Rescue Services stations 1 (780 Innisfil Beach Rd.) and 2 (1214 20th Sideroad).
The town will also award the coveted “Golden Broom” to the council member who has the highest level of proportionate participation in their ward.
And schools may hold their own clean-up events leading up to the day. As well, an appreciation barbecue will be held at Centennial Park (2870 7th Line) from noon to 1:30 p.m. on May 11, with free refreshments, food and entertainment provided to those who volunteered.
“We would encourage everyone, even if you can’t do it for the full two hours,” Dollin said. “I typically hit the Cookstown rail trail, that’s one of my favourite spots — I can get the most bang for my buck. There’s everything. I’d like to think it’s not people purposefully littering, that it’s stuff that flies off the back of your trailer. But it is frustrating there’s so many Tim Hortons cups, and the other thing that really irks me is the pet waste bags. If you’re going to take the time to bend over and pick it up, take it home. Don’t throw it into a tree or ditch.”
To help determine the level of community participation and ensure there are sufficient materials available, folks are asked to register online.
Pitch-In Day was developed by town assistant clerk Kim Creamer more than a quarter century ago.
“I have pictures of toddlers holding up garbage bags who are now married with children,” Dollin said of past Pitch-In events. “It’s been a long time that we’ve been doing it. Kim Creamer is the mastermind behind it. She’s been running it since its inception. She’s really good at coordinating it. She’s a real champion for Pitch-In.”
Dollin noted, too, that residents who exhibit outstanding community spirit are eligible to be nominated for the Debbie Mills Civic Pride Award. This honour recognizes an individual, group or business that helps the town through exceptional volunteering efforts.
The award nomination period closes May 31. For more information on the award, or Pitch-In Day in general, visit innisfil.ca.
