City creates cleanup program

In an effort to encourage residents to pick up trash in their neighborhoods, Columbia’s Office of Volunteer Services has created the Neighborhood Pride Volunteer Program.

The program comes at the request of the Columbia City Council, which asked the volunteer services staff to develop a litter-patrol effort. The city plans to fully launch the program in conjunction with the Cleanup Columbia event, planned for April 8, because of the warmer spring weather.

“This is still in its infancy, and we will likely use the winter to ramp up and present it to the public,” volunteer coordinator Leigh Nutter said.

Although the program is not ready to accept volunteers yet, it will be open to people of any age.

Nutter said the group plans to visit with key organizations that might be interested in the program, including Neighborhood Watch associations and groups that promote fitness and exercise.

“It’s not necessarily a lot of work,” Nutter said. “It should not add a burden. It is a way that people can roll it into a formalized activity.”

Neighborhood Pride will encourage residents to pick up trash while walking in their neighborhood. Residents will also be asked to report suspicious activity, problems with sidewalks and any damage to street signs, street lights and signals.

“One thing that makes it neat is that we can combine several aspects in one program,” Nutter said. “It’s really going to have lots of benefits to the people that participate and the neighborhoods where people live.”

Stacia Reilly, health educator for the Columbia/Boone County Health Department, said the program will not only clean up neighborhoods but also encourage walking, one of the easiest forms of exercise.

“I think that by making this an official program of the city, it really will have a good response,” Reilly said. “It’s helping you and helping the city.”