Valley’s 30th community cleanup day set for Saturday

Volunteers needed!

   On Saturday, the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, in cooperation with Hopewell Township and Hopewell Borough, is hosting the Valley’s 30th Cleanup Day. All interested community members and groups are invited to participate.
   The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Hopewell Township Public Works building, 230 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road.
   When volunteers sign in, they will be assigned a specific area or roadway to clean. At that time they also will receive trash bags, safety vests and gloves. Working in at least groups of two, volunteers will collect trash and recyclables from Valley roadways. There are over 100 designated cleanup areas.
   Volunteers who work at least two hours will receive a T-shirt, and earn money for the nonprofit organization of their choice. For every adult hour worked, $8 can be earned; $6 for children 12 or younger. Adult supervision, one adult per four children under 12, is required. Volunteers must provide their own transportation to and from their work areas and plan to return the filled trash bags to the Public Works building. Volunteers also are required to wear the provided safety vests and bring a cell phone so they can be contacted on the roadways if necessary. Interested groups and individuals can preregister at www.fohvos.org or by calling 730-1560.
   The mission of the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space is to promote conservation in the Hopewell Valley region through open space preservation, informed land use, wise stewardship, education and outreach. It is a private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1987 that works in partnership with state, county and municipal government, other land trusts and private land owners. Over the past 20 years, the organization has helped to protect over 3,500 acres of open space throughout Hopewell Valley.