Clean Up Day returns May 17

Published: Thursday, March 20, 2014 9:12 AM EDT
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After more than a decade, America’s military involvement in Afghanistan is winding down — but the loss and pain of war remains for many U.S. troops and families.So it is with winter, on a far lesser scale.

Winding down, with a cleanup bill come due.

Caring town residents have banded together to simultaneously tackle the big job of saluting Armed Service members, and the little job of bending knees to pick up the litter exposed by the retreated snow.

Selectmen this week gave their blessing to a second annual Clean Up Foxboro Day — this one to be held on Armed Forces Day in America.

“The date requested is Saturday, May 17, which enables us to provide volunteers with an opportunity to help protect the environment for future generations, but to also say a special ‘thank you’ to our country’s men and women in uniform,” town historian Jack Authelet said he remarks he prepared for the board.

All the flags will be flying downtown that day.

More than 200 volunteers came forward last year, said Authelet, who appeared before the board Tuesday.

Authelet was joined by A.J. Dooley, of Dooley Disposal Services, the main sponsor and founder of last year’s event, which drew more than 200 volunteers.

“Clean Up Foxboro volunteers will be afforded an opportunity to not only clean the roadside of litter but to also bring a note of appreciation and encouragement that would be sent to men and women serving our country,” Authelet wrote.

There would also be an opportunity to bring items wanted by the troops, such as shampoo, protein bars, mixed nuts and dried fruit to snack on while performing their military responsibilities. These items will be packed in boxes and shipped overseas to anxiously waiting military personnel. Donations would also be accepted to help pay for postage to mail the packages. This would be done in cooperation with the Hero Helpers and Heartillery organizations.

Leaders of the Lawrence W. Foster Post, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2626 in East Foxboro applauded the proposed link of Clean Up Foxboro Day and Armed Forces Day.

Volunteers will be provided disposable gloves, trash bags, bottled water and a route. Everyone will have a safety T shirt to wear for the occasion, courtesy of Dooley Disposal Services.

Dooley trucks will pick up filled trash bags at designated locations throughout the morning and dispose of all material collected.

If special attention is needed in specific areas, volunteers would also be directed to that location. A. J. Dooley said his services could also extend to graffiti removal if needed.

Corporate sponsors will be solicited to cover the cost of material provided for the volunteers (gloves, water, lunch, etc.) and an invitation will be extended to all Scout and sports groups, community organizations, neighborhood groups and families to all pitch in on Clean Up Foxboro Day and pay tribute to the men and women on active duty with our military.

A Web page will be announced for registration. Sign-in will be held in the Town Hall parking lot. Routes will be mapped out, special areas of attention identified, and Dooley employees will pick up the filled bags of trash and dispose of them properly.

Some lucky volunteer will go home with two tickets to a Patriots game with VIP parking, a tailgate party under the Big Bubble, and a sideline walk prior to the game courtesy of The Kraft Group.

The Kraft Group will also have a team signing up for the Clean Up and will be donating items for the members of the Armed Forces requested by Hero’s Helpers and Heartillery.

A closing program will be held at noon at a location to be determined. This will include volunteer appreciation, a salute to our men and women serving our country around the globe, and the formal presentation of all the donated items to the representatives of Hero’s Helpers and Heartillery who will get the items to the servicemen and women.