EARTH DAY INSPIRES LOCAL VOLUNTEERS

Lorain County Volunteer Connection coordinates efforts around downtown

Clean-up efforts took place in Downtown Wellington on April 23 as a few Lorain County organizations teamed up to complete an Earth Day project.

The Lorain County Volunteer Connection, a partnership between the United Way of Greater Lorain County and HandsOn Northeast Ohio, coordinated the Earth Day Clean-Up with Main Street Wellington Executive Director Jenny Arntz, according to Alyssa Thompson, director of programs for the volunteer connection. Thompson said she wanted to do something for Earth Day, which took place April 22, and found a way to partner with Main Street while learning about other events the organization has coming up this summer.

Main Street Wellington is also a partner of THRIVE! Southern Lorain County, which is one of United Way’s Community collaboratives, and Thompson said the volunteer connection enjoys finding ways to work with United Way’s partners and collaboratives.

Arntz said Main Street and local volunteers are already planning to plant fresh flowers in the planters around Downtown

"We’re hoping that this will get the ball rolling and inspire everyone to have a little bit more community pride and maybe not litter so much."

— Main Street Wellington Executive Director Jenny Arntz

Wellington the week before Memorial day with the help of Hook’s Greenhouse and Farm Market in Wellington, so when the Earth Day idea was presented it seemed like a great way to kickstart to the spring cleanup effort.

“We’re hoping that this will get the ball rolling and inspire everyone to have a little bit more community pride and maybe not litter so much,” she said.

Wellington Township residents Walt and Chris Opperman were among those to join the volunteer effort and take part in cleaning the streets in Wellington’s downtown area.

Work included sweeping cigarette butts, picking up litter and cleaning out window wells on North Main Street.

“You would think it’s one big ash tray,” Walt Opperman said while sweeping the street on West Herrick Avenue.

Walt Opperman said he and his wife Chris wanted to take advantage of an opportunity to make the community a little better.

“Society really needs some kick-starting,” he said.

“I can’t understand why people live in squalor.”

Chris Opperman said Wellington is a good community and she and her husband want to do their part to keep it that way.

Thompson said the Lorain County Volunteer Connection wants to utilize volunteer power and make it a good experience for those involved so hopefully those who participate want to more often.

“We want to engage everyone as much as possible,” she said.

KELSEY LEYVA — THE MORNING JOURNAL Lorain County Volunteer Connection Programs Director Alyssa Thompson and Wellington resident Chris Opperman pick up cigarette buts and leaves on W. Herrick Avenue in Wellington while participating in an Earth Day Clean-Up event coordinated by the...

KELSEY LEYVA — THE MORNING JOURNAL Wellington Township resident Chris Opperman smiles as she sweeps the sidewalk in front of Main Street Wellington, 118 W. Herrick St., on April 23.