Cleaning Up the Neighborhood

When neighbors join forces and get organized, good things happen in the community. Thanks to SOLVE, Calbag Metals, and the Northwest Industrial Business Association (NIBA), we did just that with yesterday’s massive cleanup party. Our neighborhood’s proximity to the Willamette River makes it especially important to remove garbage before it heads downstream and into the ocean. Every piece of plastic traveling through our waterways is a threat to aquatic life. As it continues to erode in the water, microplastic particles can be traced back to your seafood dinner in every corner of the world.

Healthy rivers and oceans aren’t the only reason we banded together yesterday. It’s also an issue of health and safety in our streets. As houselessness continues to rise across the country, any local resident can tell you that Portland is no exception. Since the root causes are deeply systemic, the issue will likely continue to get worse before it gets better. That realization alone makes volunteer cleanup events like this more important than ever.

SOLVE has been orchestrating this important work across the state since 1969. In addition to organizing the cleanups, they also plant native trees and shrubs, while removing invasive species to help support our local pollinators. They protect the very things that constitute Oregon’s natural beauty and its more fragile than any of us would like to admit. Please consider signing up for a cleanup party in your neighborhood. Rolling up your sleeves and donating your time is good for the soul. Learn more here: https://www.solveoregon.org/solvecalendar

Thanks again to our neighbors at Calbag Metals and the Northwest Industrial Business Association for organizing the event and hosting the epic afterparty at Hammer & Stitch. Let’s do it again soon!