River Cleanup is a community initiative aiming to clean and maintain rivers across the US. A group of volunteers work together, collaborate with community stakeholders and sponsors to clean up a local river.
Why it matters
Cleaning a river helps solve the problem that millions of tons of trash cause every year. Trash is more than just an eyesore, it contaminates our drinking water and threatens the lives of all people, wildlife, and communities who depend on clean water. It is also a great way to meet your neighbors and get some fresh air.
What you can do
You can apply for funding to run a river cleanup in your local community. Once you're ready to go fill in this short form, complete the 30 Day Challenge and we'll make sure you have everything you need to get started.
River Cleanup is a community initiative aiming to clean and maintain rivers across the US. A group of volunteers work together, collaborate with community stakeholders and sponsors to clean up a local river.
Why it matters
Cleaning a river helps solve the problem that millions of tons of trash cause every year. Trash is more than just an eyesore, it contaminates our drinking water and threatens the lives of all people, wildlife, and communities who depend on clean water. It is also a great way to meet your neighbors and get some fresh air.
What you can do
You can apply for funding to run a river cleanup in your local community. Once you're ready to go fill in this short form, complete the 30 Day Challenge and we'll make sure you have everything you need to get started.
A group of YVC volunteers went along the DSM river to clean up garbage. At first, we were not finding much, as soon as we go deeper into the woods that follow the river, we found many abandoned items and trash. We ended up hauling 6 bags of trash and an abandon mattress out of the woods. All this trash would have ended up in the river had we not picked it up.
Hi all!
Reminder that tomorrow is the big day!! We will be meeting at CYC around 5pm. We will go over some quick safety instructions, have a snack, and then depart for our clean up. We will be cleaning an area near the Hyvee north of CYC called Polk County River Place. If you need help getting there, you should be able to follow the CYC van. We will have all cleaning essentials stocked, we recommend you wear closed toed shoes and warmer attire. We will be walking through wooded areas and on dirt trails, so be mindful. If anyone has any last minute questions email me [email protected]
Our YVC team met on Wednesday evening to discuss our River Clean up. Our team plans to host the clean up on April 6th during one of our meeting times. We created a flyer we will be using to promote the event in our schools and community. Additionally, we will also be each try to encourage a friend to join us. The Des Moines River is our target for the clean up. The DSM river runs along both rural and urban areas. It accumulates a lot of plastic waste in the metro so we are finding a stretch along our urban area to clean. The impact will be no only a cleaner community, but a more aware local youth population. Our program is youth led and operated. We are encouraging all ages to attend this clean up despite most our projects being youth based. We will be using the funding to purchase supplies such as masks, gloves, grabbers, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and trash bags. We will also use the funding to print our fliers and promotional materials. Any access funding would be used to support other environmental based projects such as our compost bin system or community garden. All attendees will be encouraged to take covid precautions by keepings hands sanitized and a social distance between groups when possible. Masks will also be encouraged. We are so excited to clean our community together!