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The Little Pickers include Nash Cude, Lainey Sosa and John Garcia.
Kearny residents of all ages, from toddlers to senior citizens, put their community pride on display by helping with the recent town-wide cleanup. Other organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4 – H, the Kearny Rotary Club, the Elks Club and many more also volunteered to help the cleanup effort.
Kearny Town Manager Anna Flores was pleasantly surprised by what she witnessed while driving through the town.
“I was driving up the street one day and there was a group of three and four-year old (children) with litter pickers,” Flores told the Copper Basin News. “Their babysitter (McKenzie Cude) bought each of them a litter picker and said they love to go out and just clean up.”
A little picker.
There was an additional benefit for the toddlers, Cude shared with Flores, “It also helps develop their dexterity.”
Volunteers are available to provide cleanup services at the homes of the town’s residents. Tom Herbst, a Kearny Cleanup Committee member, purchased equipment that he uses to mow lawns in addition to other yard services.
Herbst and Dennis Sarter, also a Cleanup Committee member, were responsible for rooting 107 plants along Tilbury Road.
A little picker
The Kearny Cleanup Committee is made up of citizens who care deeply about the community and take pride in maintaining it. The committee meets every third Wednesday of each month. After a short hiatus, meetings will recommence in September.
Flores was very pleased to see the community’s involvement in the cleanup, especially the youngsters who helped and still visit parks and neighborhoods to help as much as they can.
“I just thought it was so neat to instill in (the young children) at their age that community pride and keeping the community clean,” she said. “It brought me so much joy and happiness. I was so moved by it.”
A little picker
Residents are encouraged to contact Anna Flores at the Town Hall offices for more information about the Kearny Cleanup Committee or scheduling residential yard services. The phone number is 520-363-5547.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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