By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — Circle the date on the calendar and dig out those work gloves.

April 27 is the date of the Earth Day cleanup for people living in the towns of Casco and Naples.

“We are incredibly excited to revive the Casco-Naples Earth Day Organization’s cleanup event after a hiatus due to the challenges posed by COVID-19. Our goal is to reignite the former level of participation and enthusiasm surrounding this event, bringing the community together once again to make a positive impact on our environment,” according to coordinator Emily Moon.

“By relaunching this cleanup as an annual tradition, we aim to cultivate excitement, awareness, and widespread engagement within the community,” she said. 

This cleanup takes place next Saturday, starting in the parking lot of the American Legion Post #155. People can show up as early as 8 a.m. to pick up trash bags and figure out which area to clean. Essentially, the cleanup goes from 9 a.m. to noon, with a barbecue lunch at the Legion afterwards. 

Already, volunteers have stepped forward to help the event go smoothly.

“This year, we’ve successfully fulfilled our need for waste collection with the help of a dedicated group of volunteers who will generously donate the use of their trucks and trailers,” Moon said.

“To further facilitate waste disposal, we’ve arranged for two large dumpsters to be stationed at the Legion, where volunteers are welcome to bring their collected trash if they would like to,” she said.

Communicating with the cleanup volunteers will be key to hitting the places hardest hit with trash, Moon explained.

“To ensure an organized and efficient cleanup effort, we will be asking volunteers to let us know in advance where they plan to pick up trash. For those who haven’t chosen a specific location, we will assign them to major roads that tend to accumulate more litter, such as routes 302, 11, 35 and 114. These roads experience the heaviest traffic and are more prone to littering,” she said. 

“Addressing those roads is crucial to our cleanup goals. We recognize that certain areas may have a higher concentration of trash compared to other areas, which is why were focusing effort on these major roads as priority cleanup spots. By targeting these areas, we can have a greater impact in reducing litter and improving the overall cleanliness of our community,” she said.

Moon is doing this for personal reasons.

“My motivation to help organize this cleanup stems from a deep-seated commitment to environmental stewardship and the desire to make a tangible difference in the health of our planet. Every piece of litter removed from our parks, benches and streets is a step towards a cleaner, healthier environment for current and future generations,” she said.

Town pride is one reason people participate in cleanups.

“People volunteer for cleanups for a variety of reasons, each stemming from a personal connection to environmental stewardship and community engagement, a sense of purpose and concern about the environment. Overall, the reasons people volunteer for cleanups are diverse, but they all share a common goal of making a positive impact on the environment and their communities,” she said.

One of the benefits of the cleanup is the thank-you meal.

“Following the cleanup, we’re excited to host a barbecue to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our volunteers On the menu, we’ll be serving up burgers and hot dogs, accompanied by chips for a satisfying and well-deserved meal,” Moon said.

“In addition to the barbecue fare, the American Legion will be hosting a bar where volunteers can purchase refreshments to quench their thirst and enjoy some post-cleanup relaxation,” she said.

“The barbecue not only serves as a tasty reward for our volunteers’ efforts but also provides an opportunity for everyone to come together, socialize, and reflect on the impact we’ve made in cleaning up our community,” she said.