Volunteers clean up along the river during Saturday’s 31st Annual Ottawa River Clean Up in Lima.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA — It is a yearly event meant to help bring the community together and foster civic pride. On Saturday morning, that event returned with the city of Lima, Allen Soil and Water District, LACNIP and Omnisource partnering together for the Ottawa River Cleanup.
“Last year, it was moved to a city of Lima event but it is still a partnership with different entities in Allen County,” Stormwater Coordinator Lydia Archambo said.
Volunteers for the event gathered at 9 a.m. at the Central Services Building, 900 S. Collett St., and worked to remove trash from along the river until noon.
“Participants come out and contribute a little bit of time for a big effort to clean up a small section of the river,” Archambo said. “It has a huge impact and helps make sure our river stays clean, happy and healthy. They also get a t-shirt and certificate of participation.”
Community members were sent to various parts of the river and provided trash bags for anything they found. The organizations also provided ways to dispose of the trash following the event.
“Volunteers who come out to clean up can go to the dumpster right on site,” Archambo said. “They dump their trash here. We have some people who will dump it at their apartment building if they don’t want to come back here.”
The organization had over 70 participants pre-register for the event and more than 100 participants overall.
“It is a great event,” Archambo. “I love having people come out every year. Hopefully, I get to see more people next year.”
For more information reach Allen Soil and Water District at 419-222-0846.
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
