精东影业 is launching an occasional series looking at neighborhood sustainability projects 鈥� small efforts by residents to help make their communities greener.
Lorain resident Max Schaefer does his part by picking up trash and doing yard work.
He organizes events he calls QuickPicks: flash mob community clean-ups.
鈥淎 week before it鈥檚 held, we鈥檒l post on Facebook and Twitter where it鈥檚 going to be, supplies we鈥檒l provide,鈥� explained Schaefer.
The day of the event, people who show up spend an hour cleaning up a city block, mowing lawns, picking up trash, or managing weeds.
He says it鈥檚 about city beautification, but it鈥檚 also about helping residents with their property or a vacant lot next to them.
鈥淲e try to just help some areas that need a little bit of work and sometimes get overlooked,鈥� said Schaefer.
During the events, Schaefer says his groups typically pick up a lot of fast food garbage and plastic bottles. Occasionally, they鈥檒l have to deal with waste or large items like tires or children鈥檚 playground equipment.
鈥淭he QuickPicks are about building better communities, better neighborhoods, involving the citizens of Lorain, and getting them to show some pride in their city,鈥� said Schaefer.
He鈥檚 happy to see QuickPicks in Lorain, but looks forward to seeing neighboring communities start their own versions.
Hosting your own QuickPick
Here are Max Schaefer鈥檚 steps for a successful QuickPick (edited lightly)
- Select a city block, a day, and a time (but make sure it鈥檚 only 1 hour long)
- Create a Facebook event with a short, catchy title (ex. CLE #QuickPick: Hough)
- Invite friends/family/anyone you know
- Encourage others to bring supplies including trash bags, gloves, brooms, but buy extra just in case
- On the day of the event, show up 15 minutes early and have a good QuickPick!
