Trash clean-ups continue along I-205 Multi-Use Path

If you have some time on a Thursday afternoon, see what good you can do in outer East Portland – in the Lents neighborhood …

A group of volunteers is briefed about their mission as the “Urgent Need Clean-up” along Interstate 205’s Multi-Use Path is about to begin.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Every month, volunteers make a positive impact by helping out at an “Urgent Need Clean-up” along the Interstate 205 Multi-Use Path in Lents.

Thursday afternoon, December 15, Oregon SOLVE hosted such an event – this time in collaboration with a community partner called Dinner and a Movie PDX. The cleanup received the financial and logistical support of Fred Meyer.

Ready to head out with the rest of the volunteers, here’s SOLVE Program Coordinator Estrella Valdez.

“This partnership furthers the positive impact of litter cleanup education, while also providing vital resources for our unhoused community members,” remarked SOLVE Program Coordinator Estrella Valdez.

“This cleanup is deemed an ‘urgent need’ because the area contains a high concentration of litter that threatens public safety and environmental quality,” Valdez told East Portland News.

Folks from community partner Dinner and a Movie PDX tote carts laden with snacks and other necessities for volunteers and other residents along the Multi-Use Path.

“With the help from people from Dinner and a Movie PDX, we provide coffee and snacks to the people cleaning-up today,” said Valde, who added that these are also provided to any “residents” along the I-205 Multi-Use Path that they encounter.

Meeting in the parking lot of the Kingpins Family Entertainment Center, volunteers checking in for the cleanup were provided with a brief safety orientation, and outfitted with litter grabbers, vests, and gloves.

Along the route, some campers accepted the free food and beverages while others could be seen peering out of their shelters. Nevertheless, volunteers did pick up lots of trash that was so abundant that it sometimes was cascading over the sidewalks.

Here’s a recent “before” and “after” comparison of the work volunteers did in cleaning up an area along the I-205 Multi-Use Path. SOLVE image

Sign up for the January 12 ‘Urgent Need’ Detrash Portland cleanup along the I-205 Multi-Use Path

From 1 until 3 p.m., consider joining other volunteers in removing more trash from this area. Urgent Need clean-ups are not family-friendly, or suitable for anyone under the age of 18, due to an increased presence of hazardous materials.

Advance sign-up is required! Do so at the SOLVE website: CLICK HERE. Read the information, scroll down to the blue block lower on the page, for the date you desire. And then, click on the green SIGN UP button within that bar. They’re meeting at KingPins Family Entertainment Center, at 3550 SE 92nd Avenue, 97266.

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