Torrington schedules 20th annual Earth Day cleanup for April 19; organizers seek volunteers and donations

Christine Altman, a member of the Torrington Conservation Commission, told commissioners at their March 25 meeting that the commission had scheduled its 20th annual Earth Day cleanup for Saturday, April 19, from 9 a.m. to noon at Coe Park, 101 Litchfield Street.

The commission plans to provide gloves, trash bags, water and lunch and is seeking volunteers, business donations and prize sponsors to support the event. "We provide food, water, and supplies. You supply your time and desire to make Torrington beautiful," Altman read from the event flyer during the meeting.

Why it matters: The cleanup is the commission’s largest volunteer mobilization of the year and organizers said the event both removes litter from public spaces and builds relationships with civic organizations and businesses. Altman said the commission has cataloged more than 80 litter locations across the city and hopes to use targeted assignments to increase the event’s impact.

At the meeting commissioners discussed outreach and sponsor solicitation strategies. Organizers said they will post notices on the mayor’s Facebook page and the city website, send an email blast, and distribute printed flyers at City Hall and partner businesses. Commission members volunteered to solicit gift-card or in-kind donations from regional retailers and hardware stores, naming Big Y, Market 32, Walmart, Stop & Shop, Lowe’s, Home Depot, BJ’s, Harbor Freight, Price Right and Ocean State Job Lot among outlets to contact.

Prize and volunteer logistics were a major focus. The commission plans prize categories such as best before-and-after photo, best cleanup outfit and most interesting find; prizes would be gift cards donated by businesses and distributed at the event. Altman said families and youth groups will be encouraged to participate and that children will be offered an egg-scavenger activity; she asked donors to notify the commission by April 11 if they intend to provide prizes or gift cards.

Organizers laid out procedures for collecting evidence for judging: volunteers may take before-and-after photos or submit pictures of unusual finds by text or email. The commission assigned a staff contact to receive texts and photos during the event and said volunteers who cannot return to the site may still enter by submitting a photo and contact information for prize delivery.

Public-works and pickup logistics: Commissioners said the city will arrange trash pickup and that a designated truck driver (identified in previous years as a volunteer) will collect filled bags and larger items at a central dumpster area behind nearby lots. Members discussed parking and drop-off areas at Coe Park and circulation of volunteers across mapped hot-spot locations to increase efficiency.

Food and supplies: The commission said Dunkin’ Donuts typically donates coffee and the group will request donated food and hot beverages; additional lunch expenses will be covered, in part, by previously approved cleanup funding. Members also confirmed supplies—bags, gloves and grabbers—are sufficient but committed to inventorying items before the event.

Organizers asked volunteers and sponsors to contact Nate Cyrus, assistant city planner and staff liaison, to register locations, offer donations or volunteer specific time slots. Altman said the commission will post a list of donors after the event and intends to publish before-and-after photos on the mayor’s page and the city site.