The city of Sandy will team up with the environmental nonprofit organization
SOLVE for “SOLVE IT in Sandy,” an annual spring litter clean up from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 17. The event coincides with state-wide clean up
events hosted by SOLVE for Earth Day. Volunteers spread out in Sandy and
pick up litter and debris to beautify the city.

“We see a lot of resident participation, including organized groups. It’s a good
way to give back to the community,” said Carol Cohen, Event Coordinator for
the City of Sandy.

Volunteers of all ages are invited to meet at the Sandy Community Center
parking lot at 38348 Pioneer Blvd. in Sandy.

The cleanup will focus on eight to ten different sites including the Sandy River
Trailhead, Tickle Creek, Main Street, the Sandy community park and the
cemetery.

“With the recent ice storm there was a lot of damage,” Cohen said. “There’s a
lot of clean up that needs to be done.”

SOLVE (formerly SOLV) was founded in 1969 as part of a community effort to
address litter in the state.

Over the years the nonprofit has expanded its mandate to address a wider
scope of community and environmental issues.

For 2021, SOLVE is combining the organization’s annual Spring Oregon Beach
Cleanup and SOLVE IT for Earth Day events. The Spring Oregon Beach
Cleanup was first held in 1986 and SOLVE IT community clean up events
began in 1990 as part of Earth Day. The community of Sandy has participated
in hosting a SOLVE IT Earth Day event for the past ten years.

SOLVE provides volunteers for the event with bags, grabbers, vinyl gloves,
safety vests and sharps containers. Hoodview Disposal and Recycling donates
a 20-yard dumpster for the litter gathered by volunteers.

Participants are encouraged to arrive with a face covering, warm clothing,
closed-toed shoes, work gloves and a supply of water.

Preregistration for the event in required online at
https://www.solveoregon.org/opportunity/a0C1I00000QFKbUUAX.

On the day of the event volunteers can drive through to check in and pick up
supplies while signing up for a designated area.

Organizers of the event will provide coffee, hot chocolate and doughnuts,
donated by Joe’s Donut Shop in Sandy, for volunteers.

“They’ve got to do the work first before they get their goodies,” said Cohen
laughing.
More information about the event is available on the city of Sandy community

services website at https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/comm-services/page/solve-it-
sandy.

More information about SOLVE and other Earth Day events in Oregon are
available at https://www.solveoregon.org.