On Sunday, November 8, 2021, ASEZ members in New Jersey cleaned fallen leaves in the city with the Mayor of Elmwood Park, New Jersey, and the city council.
About thirty five members of ASEZ from Passaic County Community College, Bergen Community College, Rutgers University, Montclair State University, and William Paterson University attended the event.
This cleanup was part of the Borough of Elmwood Park’s Residents Assistant Program [RAP]. It is a community service program sponsored by Elmwood Municipality and the City Council, and conducted together with the Police Department. Its main activities include clearing leaves and snow.
Both organizations planned these volunteer activities to create a clean and safe community by preventing slip accidents caused by fallen leaves in winter, fires, and drainage problems in the city.
The street cleanup started at 10:00 for twelve households of the elderly and the disabled in the nearby area.
An elderly resident named Pat in Elmwood Park, whose front lawn was cleaned, said, “I couldn’t imagine going out in the cold, let alone just going out, but your volunteer service enabled me to do. I would like to express my sincere gratitude.”
ASEZ member Luisa Peralta commented, “Seeing everyone happily helping and working in unity allowed me to realize that small things like a cleanup allow us to distribute love to our neighbors. I hope that in the future we can work together to keep making changes.”
ASEZ has been carrying out volunteer services for the local community in Elmwood Park. In recognition of this activity, ASEZ received a plaque from the City of Elmwood Park in September. Attention is paid to ASEZ college students’ volunteer services to make a safe community.
