Innisfil’s Pitch-In Working Committee had to revisit and rethink its Pitch-In Day plans, during the COVID pandemic.
Not only was the committee forced to repeatedly reschedule the planned Pitch-In Day community clean-up effort, as COVID numbers fell then rose again, they also had to find a way around the continued closure of local firehalls to the public.
In a normal year, volunteers participating in Pitch-In Day would be asked to drop by a fire station to sign in and pick up their gloves and garbage bags, before heading out to pick up litter along Innisfil's roads and ditches.
With the stations closed, limits on gatherings, and physical distancing in place, the Committee instead encouraged residents to register online, and request a Pitch-In Kit.
The committee put together 80 of the kits, each containing items like cloth gloves, safety tips and yellow Pitch-In garbage bags, and “all 80 kits were picked up and given out,” noted committee member, assistant clerk Kim Creamer.
In fact, said committee chair Ken Fowler, the turnout was impressive and the volunteers were enthusiastic on Sept. 18, the rescheduled Pitch-In Day.
The ongoing pandemic has led to one more change. In a normal year, prizes donated by local businesses would be given out in a random draw at an appreciation barbecue for the volunteers.
With no in-person meetings, no barbecue, and no gathering of volunteers, the committee had to get creative – using an online program, during their Zoom meeting on Thursday evening, to spin virtual prize wheels and randomly select winners from the names of families that registered to pitch in.
“A lot of names, of a lot of people who did a lot of good,” said Fowler. “I wish we had more prizes to give.”
Winners, chosen at random, were:
- Pityk Family – Gift Card from CW Coops
- Galvez Family – Stroud Rexall gift card
- Williams Family – Home Hardware gift card
- Jacobson Family – Johnny Burger gift card
- Peskett Family – Rose’s Fiscotti Gift Basket
- Dillane Family – Lakeview Gardens gift card
- The Fitzees – Gail’s Hot Box Huts gift card
- Carr Family – Alcona Sobey’s gift card
- Vargas Family – Johnny Burger gift card
- Savage Family – Stroud Foodland gift card
- Bonenfant Family – A Taste of Europe gift certificate
- Rose Family – Proud West Fun Zone gift card
- Seed Family = John’s no frills gift card
- Dewar Family – Trotter’s ESSO gift card
- O’Leary Family – Fork and Plate Restaurant gift card
- Morris Family – Cookstown Antiques Market gift card
Prize winners will be contacted by the committee, for a porch drop-off, or pick-up at the Innisfil Town Hall.
“We’re going to make sure everyone gets acknowledged,” said Fowler. He noted that residents were “champing at the bit” to get out and get involved. “It’s been a year and a half since we’ve been able to do this properly.”
He added, “It shows the heart our community has… The whole town is benefiting from everyone’s efforts.”
The Working Committee will present its 2021 Pitch-In report to Council later this month, then won't again until the spring. At that time, members will “re-evaluate where we stand with the Covid situation,” said Fowler, and decide on the format for the next Pitch-in Day.
Both Fowler and Creamer were thanked for their efforts this year. “It was difficult, given the format,” noted member Sue Bennett.
“We have a great community that wants to get out” and pitch in, said Creamer – everyone from high school students, to community members who took the initiative to clean up year-round. “My appreciation to everyone.”
Creamer asked that anyone with suggestions for improving Pitch-In Day or the format used this year, please send their comments to [email protected]
