Volunteers Celebrate a Reopened Downtown by Cleaning Up
Photos Provided by SOLVE
Photo 1: A massive pile of litter is collected in Pioneer Courthouse Square, where in only a few days, the City of Portland will host its reopening celebration.
Photo 2: A line of volunteers check-in and receive their cleanup supplies.
Photo 3: Volunteers celebrate the huge pile of collected litter at the end of the event.
Portland Ore., July 21, 2021 – This morning, SOLVE with support from Plaid Pantry, hosted the first Downtown Portland Cleanup Day since Oregon’s reopening. Community members, businesses, and families were all in attendance to show support for Portland.
267 volunteers attended the cleanup event and collected 2,950pounds of litter from the downtown corridor.
Volunteers arrived at four project locations throughout the heart of the city, including Tom McCall Waterfront Park, The Benson, the I-405 corridor, and Pioneer Courthouse Square, where a city-wide sing-along and performance will be held by Pink Martini on July 24.
Many volunteers expressed the sentiment that they are excited for downtown to return to the bustling center of the city once again. As reopening continues to unfold, businesses are stressing the importance of having a safe and welcoming place for community members to return to. By participating in a SOLVE Downtown Portland Cleanup Day, volunteers are achieving just that.
Since these events began last September, more than 4,500 volunteers have removed more than 46,000 pounds of litter from the downtown Portland corridor. Today’s cleanup was the tenth monthly Downtown Portland Cleanup Day. These events have been pivotal in showing that Portland is a strong and unified city throughout the turbulence of last year.
The July 21 Downtown Portland Cleanup Day was sponsored by Plaid Pantry and is a part of Project C.A.R.E.S. Throughout the month of July, Plaid Pantry is offering customers the opportunity to purchase $1 donation slips at the counter, which will go directly towards supporting SOLVE or Sunshine Division’s mission. This partnership highlights Plaid Pantry’s commitment to the regions that they serve. SOLVE and Sunshine Division support Oregon’s communities through litter cleanup, food accessibility, and clothing drives.
“Plaid Pantry is ecstatic to sponsor SOLVE’s Downtown Portland Cleanup Day. We have always been proud to be an Oregon based company and serve our local communities. By partnering with SOLVE and Sunshine Division, we are able to further amplify what their missions already accomplish. It’s wonderful to be a part of Portland’s recovery efforts and to support a cleaner and healthier downtown Portland,” says, Jon Manuyag, Director of Marketing at Plaid Pantry.
Volunteers were encouraged to bring non-perishable food items with them to the cleanup to donate to Sunshine Division at each check-in location. Once volunteers arrived, they were greeted with free cleanup supplies, safety information, and instruction. Volunteers cleaned the city for a couple of hours, bringing filled trash bags back to central pick-up locations. Once the event was over, Central City Concern donated their disposal services and collected the filled litter bags.
The next Downtown Portland Cleanup Day will be held on Wednesday, August 18. While these events occur monthly, volunteers can also attend one of the many cleanups that happen each week throughout Portland or get involved by leading their own volunteer event with SOLVE support. More information can be found at www.solveoregon.org.
About SOLVE
SOLVE is a statewide non-profit organization that brings Oregonians together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, and to build a legacy of stewardship for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information.
About Portland Business Alliance
The Portland Business Alliance is greater Portland’s Chamber of Commerce. Our mission is to create opportunity and advance well-being for all who live and work in the greater Portland and SW Washington region. Our vision is a healthy and resilient business ecosystem. Visit PortlandAlliance.com for more information.
Contact Info:
Larissa Gordon, SOLVE | 860-942-9108 | larissa@solveoregon.org