Great MLK Jr. Day 2012 Clean-Up Event

Irv Sheffey of the DC Sierra Club sent out this message as a summary of the great work and spirit on January 16th, 2012 at the 6th Annual Pope Branch Park & Stream Clean-Up event:

I want to thank everyone who supported and participated in yesterday’s 6th Annual MLK Day Clean-Up of Pope Branch Park in Ward 7. Eighty-two volunteers from all around the neighborhood, city and region came together to remove trash and debris from in and around the park, the creek (a tributary to the Anacostia) and surrounding neighborhoods. Each year we see more and more improvement in the cleanliness of the park and I attribute it to the quality of care demonstrated at this event and one we hold in the spring. Yesterday we removed 6,000 pounds of trash and debris from the streets and park. The community and the river are the direct beneficiaries of that effort; not a simple accomplishment.

I’m always amazed at the volunteers who come out, typically in very cold weather, to help in polishing this little gem of a park in southeast. These are people, some coming from afar, who could have chosen to be home, spending time with their families, watching TV and generally keeping warm. They chose to be out in our community making a difference in the spirit of Dr. King, proving his legacy lives on.

Thank you each and everyone.

Irv Sheffey

Pope Branch 2012 MLK, Jr. Day Clean-Up

After 5 years of successful clean-ups we have removed lots of historical dumping sites along the stream and reduced the amount of litter in and near the park. Work still remains and we have some clean-up work left to do. The park is in much better shape than 6 years ago when we first started these annual clean-up days but work still remains.

On January 16th, 2012 from 10am until 1pm we are asking you to once again come out and help us clean-up Pope Branch Park and the surrounding areas. To register for the project just go to the SERVE DC website or follow this link and sign-in up for the Pope Branch Park Clean-Up: http://app.cncs.dc.gov/mlkday/viewprojects.asp

For specific event details or questions please email Irv Sheffey at irv.sheffey@sierraclub.org.

As Dr. King said "everybody can be great because everybody can serve." Please come and serve with us!