Clean-up Day brings volunteers despite rain

 The threat and later downpour of rain did not stop hundreds of people from volunteering their time for the Town and Gown Clean-up Day Saturday morning.

“It was honestly one of the biggest turnouts we’ve had, which we did not anticipate at all,” executive director of the Towson Chamber of Commerce, Nancy Hafford, said.

The Towson Chamber of Commerce organized the event with the help of the Greater Towson Council of Community Association, Horizon Church, Goucher College and many of the community residents.

Starting at 9 a.m., volunteers completed tasks from picking up trash and sweeping streets and abandoned buildings, to weeding and mulching the landscapes in the area, until 12:30 p.m.

Due to threats of rain, Hafford said that 80 percent of the painting projects could not be done.

Towson students also joined the effort to keep the Towson area clean, as well.

Many of the students came in groups from different campus organizations.

“I had 20 student organizations signed up and 16 out of that 20 showed up, so I’m pleased with the number of people who showed up,” Student Government Association director of community outreach, Asya Henriquez, said.

Student organizations such as Kappa Delta had 33 members representing their sorority.

Junior sociology major and Kappa Delta member Clare Abed said that the sorority has participated in the Towson Clean-up day every year.

Though there have been some issues between the University and the community, co-chair of the University Relations committee, Mike Ertel said the clean up was a good way for students to interact with the older residents in the community.

“I think it’s sometimes good for older people who tend to be a little more suspicious of the younger generation to see that they are good people, no matter what age they are,” he said.

West Towson Neighborhood Association president Josh Glikin was happy to see students helping out.

The Towson Audio Production Society helped Glikin mulch and weed various areas along Joppa Road.

“They immediately recognized poison ivy, but it didn’t stop them,” Glikin said.

“They put their sleeves down, but if you see some guys on campus and they look like something out of a horror movie, don’t shake their hands, but tell them ‘thanks.’”

According to Glikin, he and his neighbors think that the surrounding neighborhoods thrive because of the students.

“Everybody has their issues with some students who don’t respect the neighbors who live around them,” he said.

“But I’ve always found that most of them actually respect and want to work with the community and be a part of it. Towson University is a good asset we have.”

Hafford said that the Towson Clean-up Day brought the community together to help accomplish their goal.

They want to attract more businesses to the area.

“The truth is, when we work together and we share our events, we bring such a wealth of wonderful venues to our community,” she said.

“It’s nice to show we all care about where we live and we want every space filled around here.”

The Towson Chamber of Commerce plans to have a second clean-up day some time in April.

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