"Good Deeds" Volunteers Pick Up Litter
First-timer Group Clean-Up a Resounding Success
North Phoenix — 15 volunteers from the Good Deeds organization dedicated a Saturday on a beautiful October weekend to beautifying one of our Sonoran Desert’s most scenic roadways as part of the Maricopa County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Adopt A Highway program.
The group rendezvoused at 7:00 a.m., Saturday, October 8th at the corner Starbucks where they were treated to free coffee and a breakfast provided by Fry’s Food Store before heading out to clean up litter along their adopted stretch of Carefree Highway.
“I am so grateful to everyone involved: first and foremost, the team of volunteers who actually did the work alongside the highway. We had eleven starters. Eight made it to breakfast, at which point we were about 80% done. Then four stout-hearted souls went back out and finished the job. This initial clean-up involved much more work than I’d thought it would. But it’s done; and I can’t thank everyone enough,” said Jack Sharkey, Good Deeds group volunteer leader.
“The support from the merchants was more than I expected, too. They all came through as promised, and then some – Starbucks, Home Depot, Fry’s – and a newcomer in the neighborhood, Wal-Mart, in the process of opening a new store and not fully stocked yet, has promised to kick in their share of goods and manpower for the next clean-up. Likewise, some of the folks from Fry’s are going to join us out on the roadside next time! Hallelujah!” added Jack.
THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESS CONTRIBUTORS FOR MAKING THIS A FULFILLING AND FUN EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE WHO TOOK PART!
- Starbucks Coffee (4815 E Carefree Hwy)
- Brea Booher, Division Manager
- Fry’s Food Store 67 (4815 E Carefree Hwy)
- Gary Murawa, Store Manager
- Carefree Home Depot (4925 E Carefree Hwy)
- Jeff Bitterslie and Michael Heinzen, Managers
“These good people and their teams took our humble little War on Litter to heart way beyond my expectations. They all deserve recognition”…Jack Sharkey, Good Deeds Founder
The MCDOT Adopt A Highway Program
Maricopa County needs your help. Locally and nationwide, roadway debris causes over 25,000 traffic accidents each year. In addition to this public safety issue, litter has proven to be a negative impact on the well-being of your community as a whole. Your group or organization has the power to help!
Starting with the foundation of the first MCDOT Adopt A Highway volunteer group in 1990, Maricopa County has enthusiastically supported its community-driven program wherein volunteers can “adopt” a two mile section of County roadway and make a two-year commitment to pick up the trash at least four times a year. The MCDOT Adopt A Highway program is a great way to get involved and show pride in your community! Groups of all types can participate --- Individuals, families, businesses, private corporations, church and civic groups or non-profit organizations. Children 12-years-old and up can also participate with parental consent.
Volunteer groups, with a minimum of six members, choose a convenient date each quarter to clean up their assigned section of County roadway. MCDOT provides training for all your volunteers and installs special Adopt A Highway signs imprinted with your group’s name on your adopted stretch of County roadway. Trash bags, safety information, safety glasses and gloves, including brightly colored traffic safety vests are all provided at no cost to your group. Filled trash bags can be left along the side of the road for MCDOT crews to pick up, or you can redeem recyclables for cash for your group or organization.
For More Information about MCDOT’s Adopt A Highway program or to schedule a group orientation, call today! (602) 506-4068 or you can send an email to aah@mail.maricopa.gov.