Volunteers collect 180 kilograms of garbage in downtown Maple Ridge cleanup

Fifty-three volunteers gathered at Memorial Peace Park on Tuesday, Sept. 22, for the Revive & Shine Community Clean-Up Day in downtown Maple Ridge.

Organized by the Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association (BIA) and the City of Maple Ridge, the event collected 65 bags of garbage weighing 180 kilograms (396 pounds). The debris included cigarette butts, furniture, fence posts and broken shopping carts.

Nicole Archer, executive director of the local BIA, said the cleanup is part of the association’s beautification and revitalization plan. Volunteers from Inner Visions Recovery Society, Hannah House, Maple Ridge Street Outreach Society and Hope For Freedom Society took part.

Archer thanked volunteers and said the event was about more than collecting garbage: it was also an opportunity to take pride in the place participants call home.

Four representatives from Hope For Freedom Society joined the cleanup. Mark Foreman, the non-profit recovery centre’s director of client care, said community volunteering is an integral part of recovery. The organization also provides outreach in the Tri-Cities to people who are unhoused or at risk of becoming unhoused, offering life-skills support and help returning to school or work after its program.

Foreman said Hope For Freedom volunteers year-round at the Friends In Need Food Bank and at Maple Ridge festivals and ceremonies. He said volunteering gives clients a chance to give back and develop accountability.

Client Colton Balan, eight days into the Hope For Freedom program, said the cleanup was his second community volunteer event. He also helped set up and take down GETI Fest in Maple Ridge the previous weekend, and said giving back is part of becoming healthy again.

Revive & Shine events are now held twice a year, in spring and fall. More information is available at https://www.downtownmapleridge.ca/.