Volunteers from Veterans Memorial Park in Oak Valley posed for a photo during the Earth Day cleanup in 2022.
Deptford will host its annual Earth Day cleanup on Saturday, April 26, a volunteer effort to help make the township a cleaner community.
Registration will begin at 8 a.m. at the municipal building. According to Mayor Paul Medany, the township is expecting more than 100 people of all ages who will be split into about 25 groups. Others can work alone. Registration can be done in advance by contacting the parks and recreation department at (856) 845-0804 or emailing at deptfordparksandrec@deptford-nj.org.
“When people arrive,” said Medany, “they register, we give them supplies and then send them to a location in town. Or they pick one. We get a lot of the same groups every year. We’re hoping for some new ones as well this year.”
Supplies for volunteers, like rakes, bags and safety vests with identification, will be provided. Areas that will get cleaner include Deptford Memorial Park, formerly known as Fasola Park, and Veterans Memorial Park in Oak Valley.
All supplies must be returned at the end of the cleanup, though participants can keep the gloves, and they will receive a free T-shirt for participating. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.
“The event is also a good volunteer event for Boy Scouts and other groups,” said Medany. “It’s a funding opportunity for them as well. It just helps them tremendously.”
A state grant of $500 will go to a participating organization – as long as it’s a nonprofit.
The cleanup is sponsored by township council, Deptford Public Works, the Deptford Green Team, the New Jersey Clean Communities Council and the Deptford Environmental Commission.
“They (residents) care about the environment greatly and want to keep Deptford clean,” said Medany.
