On May 25th, when summer was in full swing, Abbottsfield Park became livelier with ASEZ volunteers. More than 80 members of ASEZ university students, their families, and neighbors participated in the cleanup and turned the 6km area around the park into a pleasant one.
The volunteers diligently picked up plastic and trash from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tires, bumpers, old bicycles, broken yard chairs, plastic cups, and fast-food containers were all collected with a total of one hundred 74L garbage bags. The city of Edmonton which supported the church’s volunteer activities, expressed its gratitude by providing disposal of all garbage gathered.
One of the locals in the community supported ASEZ activities, saying, “We are truly grateful for having the dedicated volunteers from ASEZ here with us. Your efforts will not only beautify our surroundings but also contribute to the health and well-being of our community and ecosystems. Positive change can be created when we work together.”
Andrea Fernandez (34 years old) who was working hard to clean up large items, said, “We use plastic for a short time, but the effects last a very long time. A single use plastic must be drastically reduced. If people were asked to keep the plastic they used in their home for the rest of their life, would they still choose it? At this point of situation, we must ask: Must it be plastic?” with a bright smile.
ASEZ have cleaned up various communities such as Edmonton, Calgary, and other provinces of Canada, such as British Columbia and Ontario, providing a clean environment to its neighbors. During the covid-19 pandemic, they provided $1,100 handmade medical hats to nurses to help with quarantine and actively participated in relief efforts at disaster sites such as heavy snowfall and flooding, supporting their neighbors.
ASEZ’s recent activity went beyond simply cleaning up the streets—it became a meaningful moment for young adults to recognize and take responsibility for the cities and natural environments they live in. Every hand that picked up trash was not just tidying the streets, but also taking the first step toward tackling plastic pollution and the climate crisis.
A sustainable future doesn’t begin with grand gestures. ASEZ continues to carry out what can be done right now, spreading a wave of awareness and action for the environment. We hope that this cleanup at Abbottsfield Park will serve as yet another positive spark, inspiring more people to walk together for the sake of our planet and our neighbors.
