Every year, hundreds of volunteers from all over the greater Jamestown region come together for Hands On Jamestown, a community-wide effort to clean and beautify the streets of Jamestown. During the event, volunteers assist the City of Jamestown Parks Department with flower planting, litter collection, raking, sweeping, and other clean-up activities.
Hands On Jamestown takes place Saturday, May 21, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Complimentary donuts, coffee, and water will be available at City Hall from 8:00 to 8:45 am. Check-in the morning of the event at City Hall is not mandatory.
“We tried to make registration for Hands On Jamestown as easy as possible this year,” said Edwin Rodriguez Jr., events and marketing associate for the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation. “Any individuals, families, or groups interested in volunteering a few hours of their time can visit our website to see where other volunteers are already planning to work and sign up to join them or pick a different area,” said Rodriguez. In the past, volunteers would submit paper or digital registrations without knowing where they would be working until closer to the day of the event. Volunteers can now visit the Hands On Jamestown website and see an interactive map that is updated daily to help them choose a clean-up area that is right for them.
Most volunteers who sign up to participate in Hands On Jamestown already have an idea of where they would like to work. For those who don’t, event organizers offer several suggestions of areas in need of attention each year including: Second Street between Foote Avenue and Buffalo Street, Washington Street between Fluvanna Avenue and the Washington Street Bridge, Foote Avenue between Main Street and the Tops Markets Plaza, city parks, school perimeters, main gateways into the city, I-86 entrance, and playgrounds. Due to the work the JRC does in our city neighborhoods with the Renaissance Block Challenge, volunteers are also encouraged to start clean-up and beautification projects where they live.
“It is hard for event staff to know the physical abilities and ages of all volunteers signed up for Hands On Jamestown and we definitely want to make sure they are all in an area they are comfortable with. Our map is a great tool to use to help them decide what is best for their group,” said Rodriguez. To date, more than 300 volunteers have signed up for the 2016 Hands On Jamestown. Volunteers are asked to wear green t-shirts, sweatshirts, or jackets to stand out to motorists. Volunteers are also encouraged to reduce, reuse, and recycle by wearing previous year’s Hands On Jamestown t-shirts.
While litter collection is the easiest task to perform, volunteers can also pick up branches and leaves, sweep sidewalks and curbs, or help with other community projects in the city. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own hand tools and cloth gloves the day of the event because resources are limited. Garbage bags and rubber gloves will be available as well. Garbage and brush collected during Hands On Jamestown can be placed curbside downtown by 12:00 pm for pick up or it can be put out with weekly trash collection at home.
For more information on Hands On Jamestown or to see the map and register for the event, please CLICK HERE.