All over the city of Bakersfield, volunteers were picking up trash for the Keep Bakersfield Beautiful event, officially known as “The Great American Clean Up.” It was followed up by a post-cleanup party at Yokuts Park on April 21.
The sixth annual cleanup has had no advertisements, but had 3,400 volunteers involved this year, “and it gets bigger and bigger each year, because of our caring community,” says Sheryl Graab, 44, chairwoman for the Keep Bakersfield Beautiful organization. The event has volunteers scattered all around town picking up trash starting as early as 8 a.m. “Everybody in the community can keep the community beautiful by picking up one piece of trash every day,” said Graab. Harvey Hall, 66, mayor of Bakersfield, has been asked to participate in the event since it started.
Hall sends city workers to clean up along Highway 99 once a month. “The community needs to pick up after themselves,” Hall said. “Another big issue we have is transportation, and it’s not just one group. It’s everybody in the city who is responsible.”
To register for the event, people needed to create a group and select a part of the city where they would clean up. It’s free for anybody who would like to enter next year.
Independent organizations have been involved, such as the Bakersfield Young Marines, who have participated in the event for the past three years. Yolanda Rodriguez is a member of the group. “I believe it’s a positive thing, giving back to the community,” said Rodriguez.
The Young Marines cleaned between the streets of California Avenue and Fourth Street, including H Street and Chester Avenue.
The Bakersfield Young Marines get kids out of trouble in order to teach them self-respect and respect for others. “Honor your parents, have the courage to say ‘no,’ and commit to education, your family and community,” said Rodriguez, regarding children who are introduced to violence in an early age.
In the event, games were provided for the children as well as face painting and balloons. In the game portion, if kids won a certain amount of tickets, they could get prices.
Bobby McGowan, 40, took his three kids. His daughter told him about the event. This was his first year, and he is planning on coming back next year. “It’s a much bigger event than I thought it was, and plus, all the kids are having fun,” said McGowan, while he watched his kids play “funnel toss.”
Though 3,400 people volunteered, Bakersfield is still polluted. “Bakersfield is beautiful. Let’s keep it that way,” said Hall.