RAHWAY – Boy Scout Troop 330 and Cub Scout Pack 30 are inviting volunteers to celebrate Earth Day with them by cleaning up part of the Rahway River on Saturday, April 13. (Rain date, Sunday, April 14).
The effort will focus on the section of the North Branch of the Rahway River upstream and downstream of the dam at Winfield Park. Organizers hope to have enough volunteers participate to have teams working as far upstream as the Garden State Parkway and downstream through Rahway River Park in Clark, Linden and Rahway.
Volunteers will meet at the parking area adjacent to the waterfall of the Rahway River by the dam at Winfield Park at 8:45 a.m. The clean-up will generally be between 9 a.m. and noon, but any amount of time or effort that folks can volunteer is appreciated. There is always a large volume of floatable debris to pick up. This includes tires and of course floatables (cans, bottles, plastics, etc). The County of Union supplies gloves and garbage bags, and organizers solicit material donations (donuts, bagels, coffee, bottled water, paper towels, hand-wipes, etc) for all volunteers.
Last year, over 150 volunteers participated, including Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, fishermen, local activists and citizens. All participants should wear jeans, long-sleeved shirts, gloves and boots, and waders are recommended for those who like to get a little wet. Volunteers should bring a standard five-gallon carry bucket with a handle (be sure to put your name on the bottom) to make it easier to carry “stuff” for transfer to the large garbage bags.
Volunteers do not have to RSVP, but to obtain additional information or let organizers know that you plan to attend, you may email rivercleanup@comcast.net
