Volunteers Clean Up San Lorenzo Village On Earth Day

(Long time San Lorenzo resident Michelle Clowser, who worked the registration table at the clean up, got to meet everyone who helped. She sent her iPod out with some of the young volunteers who brought back these picture. Michelle also submitted this report.)

On Saturday, 132 San Lorenzo residents of all ages assembled at Mervin Morris skate park across from Arroyo High School for an Earth Day Clean Up.

They joined teams that went to ten public zones in the Village. They followed routes in groups, picking up trash, recycling and removing graffiti.

They also had fun finding lost items like toys and money buried in the leaves. 

The event was sponsored by the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association and Supervisor Wilma Chan in coordination with Oro Loma Sanitary District and the Alameda County Department of Public Works. 

Water, garbage bags, tongs, gloves and graffiti kits were provided. 

Three San Lorenzo Home Owners Association Board Members were present, picking up trash with the teams.  The new San Lorenzo HOA Administrator Sue Kleebauer, and her staff, organized and ran the event with help from volunteers.   

Alameda County Sheriff’s Department’s Sergeant Bret Scheuller and Deputy J.D. Stewart, San Lorenzo’s own local police heroes who attend all Village events, made runs through the town making sure that all the teams were safe, bringing back recycling and trash to be sorted at the park and kept the little kids entertained.

After cleaning up a large part of the Village, kids and adults alike enjoyed a free hot dog Bar B Que and everyone received a T-shirt for their participation. 

Assemblymember Bill Quirk stopped by and shared a hot dog and had a photo opportunity with the event coordinators and the clean up teams.  

Keith Barros, long time San Lorenzo resident, frequent volunteer and leader of the team that covered part of Hesperian Boulevard with local teens from High School (aka Team Rogue), stated:

“We finished it in less time with fewer people on Hesperian Boulevard this year because this has been an ongoing activity.  Hesperian Blvd has been getting neater and neater every year.  It is very easy for somebody to throw trash out and litter on a dirty street because it doesn’t matter. But if a street is clean, they think about it.” 

High School Students Andy Tran and Celia Torres were awarded cash found in a pile of leaves and cash donated to their team by an observer at a local business, for their work on Team Rogue. 

The more people that participate, the more fun everyone has.  If you wish to participate in a local community event, contact the San Lorenzo Homes Association at (510) 276-4554.

There are many events held all year long that benefit San Lorenzo Village community. 

What would you like to see done? And what are you willing to do?