Donna Baltakis
The first “Neighbor Helping Neighbor” cleanup sponsored by Keep Eunice Beautiful in conjunction with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Citywide Community Committee and many community supporters, volunteers, churches, businesses, the City of Eunice and the Eunice Police Department took place on May 20.
Twenty-three people came together to help a resident on South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Cars, trucks, tires, scrap metal, wood, appliances, lawn mowers, toys, roofing materials, pipes, furniture, and miscellaneous debris were removed as well as overgrown brush, trees, and high grass. This is an ongoing project which may take a few more weeks before it is complete.
Many volunteered their time with this massive clean-up, some volunteered equipment and services, some cooked lunch, some gave monetary donations, but all shared their commitment to helping a neighbor.
Keep Eunice Beautiful has many litter abatement programs taking place; all schools are recycling; and beautification efforts are ongoing with the Bulb and Blossom Club. Neighbor Helping Neighbor is the next step in our efforts to clean up our city and take pride in our homes. By visiting a neighborhood we hope that others will see what can be done when neighbors get together to help, and that they will carry on and help one another to clean up their own yards, porches, and carports. Together we can accomplish a lot. We just need to open our hearts to one another and help one another.
Our next clean-up will be in the Fall. We hope more people will step forward to help, donate, and take part. A clean neighborhood is safe, healthy, and welcoming. We all should take a moment to look out our window and see who needs help, offer that help, and Keep Eunice Beautiful.