By Lindsey Cox, MDCB, Vice-President—
MUNCIE, Ind.—Save the Date and Pre-register for the annual White River Clean-up: September 18, 8 am-noon at Muncie’s Westside Park!
Since 2006, Muncie-Delaware Clean & Beautiful and the Muncie Sanitary District have organized over 4,600 volunteers to remove 130,000 pounds of trash (including over 800 tires) from the White River. Join us this September as that tradition of stewardship continues! This year’s event will be in honor of Toni Cecil’s memory. Toni, who passed in April 2021, developed the White River Clean-up and led the event every year.
Crews on foot and in canoes will span the river from Ribble Avenue in Muncie to Canoe County of Daleville. Check-in is at Muncie’s Westside Park at 8 am. Volunteers will be transported to and from different points along the river.
Crew leaders are especially needed this year as volunteers will split into more groups due to COVID-19 precautions. Crew leaders must pre-register online and will receive additional swag and crew leader shirts. Crew leaders must attend one training session. Training is scheduled for two dates in September at the shelter at Westside Park: Tuesday the 7th at 5 pm, and Friday the 10th at noon. If a volunteer crew leader cannot attend either training option, a Zoom training session can be scheduled with Jason Donati. Even repeat crew leaders from previous years must attend training as processes and areas change. Find more details online at BeautifulMuncie.org and the MDCB Facebook event page.
Trash and recycling bags, clean safety vests, trash pickers, and gloves will be provided.
Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves and reusable water bottles due to COVID-19 concerns. A water truck, handwashing stations and hand sanitizer, park restrooms, and port-o-johns will be available onsite. Volunteers, make sure to bring your mobile phones to sign in (even if pre-registered). Make sure to wear shoes that can get wet.
The event is hosted by Muncie-Delaware Clean & Beautiful and Muncie Sanitary District/Stormwater Management Department, along with other sponsors: FlatLand Resources, Indiana American Water, EMCOMM ECI, Minnetrista, Muncie Parks Department, MITS, the Town of Yorktown, Ball State University, Clearwater Car Wash, and the Upper White River Watershed Partnership.
Participation by individuals, families, and groups (such as Ball State student clubs, workplaces, churches, and other organizations) is welcomed! The White River Clean-up committee especially loves it when the volunteer groups wear special t-shirts at the event!
We appreciate your dedication, but due to COVID-19, please stay home if you feel ill.
Volunteers must pre-register by September 11 for guarantee to receive swag and lunch. Boxed lunches will be catered by Three Bears Concessions and Sea Salt & Cinnamon.
Pre-register online at beautifulmuncie.org. Info can also be found on the White River Clean-up event page on Facebook.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the White River Clean-up on September 18th!
