Volunteers work together in Chester’s annual citywide cleanup
Local college students and organizations lent their helping hands and green thumbs in the seventh annual citywide cleanup effort in Chester this month.
The day began at 9:30 a.m. as students and community volunteers met at Chester’s city hall and were greeted by Mayor Wendell N. Butler Jr.
Volunteers worked from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. cleaning up and landscaping lots, neighborhoods and playgrounds throughout 26 different locations in the city.
About 1,800 people participated in the cleanup from Widener University, Eastern University, Swarthmore College, American Red Cross Chester-Wallingford chapter, Delaware County Housing Coalition, Chester Water Authority and volunteers from Harrah’s Chester racetrack and casino.
According to Andrew Horvath, Eastern University’s director of service learning and campus ministries, the school has partnered with the Chester mayor’s office for the cleanup since about 2005. The cleanup event is a kickoff for Eastern University students’ community service efforts throughout the school year.
This year about 450 freshman students enrolled in the introduction to faith, reason and justice course at Eastern, most of whom took part in the day of service alongside their teaching assistants and professors.
The cleanup was part of a 20-hour community service requirement for students in the course. The school also offers volunteer opportunities to upperclassmen and graduate students.
“Service is really part of the DNA of our school and the mayor’s partnership with Eastern has been very valuable and important to us,” Horvath said.
Horvath said the goal of including community service as part of the school’s curriculum is to open students’ eyes to realities they may not typically confront and to serve populations in need.
Students typically volunteer community service hours in Chester, Philadelphia, Camden, and Norristown, in locations related to their interests and major.
Students volunteer at homeless shelters, build homes with Habitat for Humanity, and work in after-school programs or at drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, or lead chapel services for inmates at local prisons.
“It builds community within Eastern students and often the experiences help students decide what they want to major in,” Horvath said of the school’s community service program.
“In serving other people, we are transformed, as well. It’s neat to see the students enjoy their service work by end of semester,” he said.
Becca Channing, 18, is a freshman at Eastern University who helped out with the citywide cleanup in Chester.
The social work major from Horsham enjoyed volunteering at the cleanup because she was able to work side by side with her classmates for a good cause.
“It was amazing to be serving together as a class and to see each other’s strengths through the day. It was also cool to be able to see the gratitude of the people living in Chester as we cleaned up,” Channing said.
One of the reasons Channing decided to attend Eastern is because of the community service opportunities available to students.
Currently, Channing is volunteering at Women of Change, a shelter for homeless women and a part of Project H.O.M.E., in Philadelphia.
Donna Davis, constituent services and event coordinator for the Chester mayor’s office, said that in addition to beautifying the city, the event helped Chester residents spend time outdoors getting to know their neighbors.
Davis was happy to see the students and volunteer groups attend this year’s cleanup and said the city plans to hold an eighth annual citywide cleanup effort next year.
“Each year the event has made a tremendous difference in the community,” Davis said.
The day began at 9:30 a.m. as students and community volunteers met at Chester’s city hall and were greeted by Mayor Wendell N. Butler Jr.
Volunteers worked from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. cleaning up and landscaping lots, neighborhoods and playgrounds throughout 26 different locations in the city.
About 1,800 people participated in the cleanup from Widener University, Eastern University, Swarthmore College, American Red Cross Chester-Wallingford chapter, Delaware County Housing Coalition, Chester Water Authority and volunteers from Harrah’s Chester racetrack and casino.
According to Andrew Horvath, Eastern University’s director of service learning and campus ministries, the school has partnered with the Chester mayor’s office for the cleanup since about 2005. The cleanup event is a kickoff for Eastern University students’ community service efforts throughout the school year.
This year about 450 freshman students enrolled in the introduction to faith, reason and justice course at Eastern, most of whom took part in the day of service alongside their teaching assistants and professors.
The cleanup was part of a 20-hour community service requirement for students in the course. The school also offers volunteer opportunities to upperclassmen and graduate students.
“Service is really part of the DNA of our school and the mayor’s partnership with Eastern has been very valuable and important to us,” Horvath said.
Horvath said the goal of including community service as part of the school’s curriculum is to open students’ eyes to realities they may not typically confront and to serve populations in need.
Students typically volunteer community service hours in Chester, Philadelphia, Camden, and Norristown, in locations related to their interests and major.
Students volunteer at homeless shelters, build homes with Habitat for Humanity, and work in after-school programs or at drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, or lead chapel services for inmates at local prisons.
“It builds community within Eastern students and often the experiences help students decide what they want to major in,” Horvath said of the school’s community service program.
“In serving other people, we are transformed, as well. It’s neat to see the students enjoy their service work by end of semester,” he said.
Becca Channing, 18, is a freshman at Eastern University who helped out with the citywide cleanup in Chester.
The social work major from Horsham enjoyed volunteering at the cleanup because she was able to work side by side with her classmates for a good cause.
“It was amazing to be serving together as a class and to see each other’s strengths through the day. It was also cool to be able to see the gratitude of the people living in Chester as we cleaned up,” Channing said.
One of the reasons Channing decided to attend Eastern is because of the community service opportunities available to students.
Currently, Channing is volunteering at Women of Change, a shelter for homeless women and a part of Project H.O.M.E., in Philadelphia.
Donna Davis, constituent services and event coordinator for the Chester mayor’s office, said that in addition to beautifying the city, the event helped Chester residents spend time outdoors getting to know their neighbors.
Davis was happy to see the students and volunteer groups attend this year’s cleanup and said the city plans to hold an eighth annual citywide cleanup effort next year.
“Each year the event has made a tremendous difference in the community,” Davis said.
