Are you thinking about organizing a community cleanup project in your neighborhood? Are you tired of walking around your block and seeing trash and debris? Well, we want to give you a few tips on how to get started! With the help of our Grappler tool and The Handy Bag Ringer, your cleanup crew will be pleasantly surprised at how effortless and fast they can change an eyesore into a piece of paradise.
The Grappler pickup tool was designed to help people retrieve objects in hard-to-reach places; this makes it an efficient tool for all your volunteers to work fast and be productive regardless of their limitations. The Grappler tool alleviates the repetitiveness of bending over to pick up objects, helping to reduce body aches and pains that might impede progress and discourage full participation. Our tool allows anyone and everyone who cares to help to share in a worthwhile project that will bring pride and relief to the community.
All of our products are manufactured right here in the United States, and we have the reputation of having the strongest pickup tool on the market. So the Grappler is perfect for community events, as well. There is no need to pay for professional services when volunteers can use our lightweight, aluminum Grappler pickup tool to dispose of everything from tiny straws to sticky soda cans without bending or touching trash.
Now, let’s get started on that project you have been thinking about!
1. Choose the right project
Identify one that fixes an existing problem and inspires others to get involved. There are so many community projects that can be organized that will help to beautify the neighborhood. However, you want to be sure you plan a project that will make a difference and solve a problem. At Grapplers Inc., we have the perfect tools to help make your event fun and hassle-free for your volunteers. Collecting trash using grappler tools and holding debris using the handy bag ringer will help volunteers easily and quickly clean up an area in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, this is not a one-and-done event, so you need tools and supplies that can be used over and over with comfort and ease.
2. Make a Detailed Event Plan
It is essential to make a specific plan for the event in advance. There are many moving pieces when assembling a group of people, and you want to be prepared to lessen confusion on the day of your event.
Your plan should include the following details:
- Life happens, so plan a date for the cleanup and have a backup rain date if possible. The community work needs to be done; however, you do not want your volunteers working outside in the rain.
- It is imperative to have a meeting location with access to restrooms for volunteers. If there is no restroom nearby, be sure to order portable toilets to have on the premises.
- Outline of all the work to be completed and the number of volunteers needed. You want to make sure you are adequately using your volunteers who have donated their time to help make the community better. You also do not want to over-work volunteers, so make sure you have enough volunteers for each task. Your outline could be for more than one day or include follow-up work that may need to be done so that anyone who cannot help initially can join later.
- Make a list of supplies you will need for your project and the required permits or licenses required.
This detailed plan will help you organize a neighborhood cleanup that is efficient and fun.
3. Recruit Volunteers Early
Start advertising your event about 1-2 months before the date. For example, you can make flyers to post around the neighborhood; inform local stores and businesses; ask neighborhood organizations to promote the event in newsletters. You can also post the event details on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
When creating your flier, make sure it includes all the necessary information needed to attend the event:
- The date of the event
- The start time and ending time of the event
- The location address
- Make a note about what volunteers should wear. Your volunteers need to wear suitable clothing since there is a possibility clothing and shoes may get dirty. Gloves, straw hats, sunscreen, etc., may need to be worn as well, depending on the weather and climate.
Be sure to ask volunteers to sign up to know who is coming and how much more recruiting needs to be done. Keep in mind, volunteers may sign up and not show up at the event, so recruit more volunteers than you need. And lastly, you want to send a reminder to those who have signed up a few days before the event. Life is busy, so reminder emails are essential.
4. Purchase supplies and ask for donations
Unless you have a budget for your event, the most economical approach is to request donations for your neighborhood cleanup. Make a list of your needs and the estimated costs and ask local businesses to donate the funds or the items themselves. Hardware stores are an excellent place to start. You can also purchase our Grappler pickup tool and The Handy Bag Ringers for your volunteers with donated funds. This will take your event up a notch by using our sophisticated tools.
Suggested supplies:
- Grappler
- Handy Bag Ringer
- Gloves
- Trash bags
5. Assign Specific Tasks During the Cleanup
During your community cleanup, divide your volunteers into groups. Assign each group a specific project. Provide them with a written outline of their task, the required supplies, and a map of the locations to work at (if applicable), along with the locations of restrooms, refreshments (have bottled water especially), and other necessities.
Group tasks can include:
- Cleaning a specific street or block.
- Passing out water and snacks to other volunteers.
- Assisting with volunteer check-in.
- Taking pictures of the event.
- Separating garbage from recyclables during litter collection.
When providing group instructions, remember to include instructions for cleaning up after the project is complete.
6. Make a Plan for Debris Removal
Once you’ve collected all of the trash, you will need to have a way to get rid of debris at your community cleanup. Call your city government and ask about options for scheduling a pickup for trash and recycling. If you have a major cleanup project and expect to collect a lot of waste, you may want to rent a dumpster for your big day.
7. Reward Your Volunteers
Have light refreshments for your team of volunteers, especially if the weather is sweltering. Snacks like water, chips, and fruit bars are good to pass out to volunteers to keep them working and enjoying the experience.
And after completing your neighborhood project, reward your volunteers for showing your appreciation for their time. Of course, a post-cleanup party would be ideal, but you can also say “thank you” by providing snacks, a t-shirt, or simply sending handwritten thank-you notes. We hope these tips will help with your cleanup project, and we hope you will consider using our Grappler products to get the work done quickly and efficiently!
