Every year, as the spring comes to New Haven, Linda Townsend-Maier invites her community to help clean the streets. She has been doing this for 22 years, and this Saturday was no different.
Shortly after 8 a.m., Townsend-Maier was joined by over 20 neighbors and other volunteers. Beginning at the New Haven Police Department’s substation at 150 Edgewood Avenue, the group began to clear paths, alleyways and garden areas in the Dwight-Kensington area.
Brian came to volunteer through the Sierra Center, a house for men who have been arrested. Along with a couple other men from the center, he came to the Dwight-Edgewood clean-up to help “give back something.”
He was joined by members of TeenChallenge, a faith-based program for substance abusers. David, a member of the program, said the attitude had been positive throughout the day because it was what he defined as true volunteer work.
“We’re here because we want to be,” he said.
He added that the clear goal of the organizers helped to motivate those who had volunteered. (Members of the program declined to have their last names published.)
According to Townsend-Maier, the clean-up operates in conjunction with the Dwight Central Management Team (DCMT), where she serves as executive director. The DCMT organizes a spring festival each year, and volunteers are encouraged to help prepare the streets for the outside events. While she said she had hoped for more volunteers from the local community (most of the volunteers did not come from area directly surrounding the Dwight-Edgewood intersection), she said the progress of the team assembled was impressive.
Brian and David attributed the efficiency of the volunteers to the good weather, which remained warm and sunny for the duration of the morning. David added that he only hoped the weather would also continue for the festival.
The DCMT spring festival is scheduled for June 6.
Good work Dwight. Love to see the energy of residents and other volunteers who care about their neighborhood!