On May 22, 2022, around 80 volunteers from the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation gathered in one of the most culturally thriving regions of Manhattan Borough, the Lower East Side (LES). To enhance the community, the Foundation hosted a cleanup in honor of Clean Day and collected more than 50 garbage bags.

With a goal to make a global impact on Clean Day, WeLoveU volunteers joined forces with the New York City Department of Sanitation. As its eclectic scene naturally draws the attention of many, the residential areas often become swamped with litter. It’s a hotspot in need of much attention.

Hitting the Ground Running

The participants met at 11 a.m. along the Allen and Pike Street Pedestrian Malls. With brooms and large shovels in hand, the volunteers hit the ground running, looking for every bit of trash they could find.

Bending over railings, ducking under bushes, sweeping sidewalks, and scooping up trash, the group thoroughly combed the streets. In the end, the pedestrian malls were transformed into a park all can enjoy. The positive expressions on people’s faces were a testament to the unified effort taking place in their community. Aware of the positive impact, the volunteers continued working under the hot sun with a jubilant spirit. “This was a great opportunity to clean the community to promote a better environment,” said Emmanuel Vera, a local volunteer.

Surprise Visit From…

NYC Department of Sanitation Supervisor Frank Catalano shared the resident’s feelings about the group. “What I witnessed today was a truly valiant effort,” said Mr. Catalano. “Volunteer efforts like this can truly make a difference in the quality of life for every resident in New York City!”

Lower East Side native Councilman Christopher Marte also joined. He professed his gratitude for the initiative, saying, “These are truly magical moments of giving back to your community, so I really wanted to say thank you.”

Carried out under WeLoveU’s Clean WORLD Movement campaign — the Clean Day activity in Manhattan’s Lower East Side was one of five cleanups simultaneously occurring on the same day. Other cleanup locations included Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia.

Through the volunteers’ efforts, WeLoveU is supporting the advancement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Specifically, the Clean Day volunteer service supports SDGs 11, 13, 15, and 17. WeLoveU hopes the cleanup will have long-lasting effects on the community. Councilman Marte emphasized that when residents see volunteers cleaning up their neighborhood, it “plants the seed… [and] inspires them to get involved or to think about what they can do to improve their own community.”