Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
(MITCHELL) - With just two weeks until Mitchell’s downtown is filled with people and the community is put on display, volunteers are gathering Saturday to clean up the city.
Krystal Shetler of the Times-Mail reports that a partnership between Capstone Ministries, the United Way of South Central Indiana, the city of Mitchell and the Lawrence County Solid Waste District will make it easier for residents to not only clean up their own properties, but the city's thoroughfares just in time for the start of the Persimmon Festival, which runs Sept. 22nd to the 29th.
Two years ago, the United Way began a Mitchell Day of Caring in September to get the city spruced up and ready for the festival.
Christian Lambton, president of the United Way says teenagers from the high school and other organizations volunteer to do the cleanup. Because of its participation in the Day of Caring, the Mitchell High School football team was named Volunteer of the Year this year because they've been so great in helping.
The idea is to gather volunteers at the Mitchell Senior Citizens Center at 8 a.m. Breakfast is served before volunteers are sent out to complete various service projects throughout the community. Work is done by noon, and volunteers are then fed lunch.
Capstone Ministries, a nonprofit focused on helping the local community, teamed up with United Way for the project.
While United Way volunteers will be working to clean up the city, Capstone will be taking a different approach in gathering old and unwanted items that can be discarded and recycled, free and easily. Using the Mitchell Street Department's garage off Warren Street, volunteers will be taking broken furniture, old bath fixtures, used oil, hazardous waste, paint, old carpeting, recyclables, out-of-date medication, motors, tires, electronics and broken toys on both Friday and Saturday.
Items can be dropped off from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and again from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Residents can even call 849-0470 before Friday to arrange to have junk cars towed from their properties. Residents will be given scrap value for the vehicle, minus a small haul-off fee.
And the United Way is seeking not just volunteers, but projects. For those who are unable to clean up their properties, call 849-5161 to have your name added to the list of service projects where volunteers can come to your yard and do minor clean-up work.
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