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Redd Up Altoona sets big cleanup

Volunteers sought for May 17 event

The Redd Up Altoona Foundation will hold its third annual “BIGGIN'” center city cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 17.

Volunteer participants should show up at Heritage Plaza downtown a little before the starting time, so leaders can organize the cleanup, according to Devin Saylor, organization founder and CEO.

“It’s a great opportunity to make friends, get attached to your community and help out,” Saylor said.

There will be an overall talk, then participants will break into groups of five to eight, each led by individuals chosen from among a core crew of about 20 experienced foundation members.

The group leaders will provide additional information before the groups move on to their assigned cleanup areas.

Those include downtown; Gospel Hill; the area around UPMC Altoona; Sixth, Seventh and Eighth avenues from Seventh Street to the high school campus; and the Prospect Pool and Park area.

The foundation distributes gloves, grabbers, safety vests and trash bags obtained from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and PennDOT.

Volunteers can “come as you are,” but they shouldn’t wear flip-flops, Saylor said.

People have time to chat during the event, Saylor said.

The organization plans to ensure that someone in authority will remain at Heritage Plaza throughout the event to provide direction to latecomers.

Afterward, many will adjourn to the new Center City Market for lunch.

Volunteers need to pay their own way at the market.

The foundation is cooperating with the city Public Works Department, which will get rid of the filled bags the Monday after the event.

Last year, 34 volunteers filled 67 bags.

The first year, there were 55 volunteers.

Saylor is expecting 50 to 70 volunteers this year.

Participants are a diverse lot: “a little bit of everybody,” Saylor said.

There are young and old, black and white, rich and poor, he said.

The event provides a chance “to get attached to your community and help out,” he said.

The foundation is run by a board of three members, one of whom is Saylor.

The foundation is filing incorporation papers with the Pennsylvania Department of State and eventually hopes to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under the IRS, which would help with fundraising.

The foundation’s purpose is to help with public space improvements, according to Saylor.

The foundation’s Facebook group has 857 members.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.

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