Gov. Peter Shumlin has declared Oct. 22 the first-ever 'Vermont Clean Up Day' inspired by the generosity of Vermonters helping the state recover from Tropical Storm Irene.
Modeled on its springtime sister event – Green Up Day – the newly created Clean Up Day will ensure all Vermont families and communities impacted by the storm are prepared for the upcoming winter season.
“I want to start by saying thank you for everyone's outpouring of support, incredible generosity and patience at this difficult time,” Shumlin said, speaking at a Richmond kick-off event with organizers and volunteers involved in Irene cleanup work. “None of us imagined the magnitude of damage Vermont would sustain but all of us knew that once the rains eased, we would all join together to begin the response, recovery and eventually rebuilding of our state.”
Shumlin said Clean Up Day will signal an aggressive single-day push for financial donations for Irene recovery, coordinate volunteers with communities that need help cleaning up from the storm, and allow people to donate to specific families who were impacted by Irene. In future years, the event will become a way to help all Vermonters in need prepare for the coming winter.
For Vermont Clean Up Day 2011 on October 22nd, there will be three ways people can help. By visiting www.vtcleanup.org, you can:
• Make a monetary donation to the VT Disaster Relief Fund or other charity of your choice. Details for organizations involved in the relief and rebuilding effort can be found on the web.
• Sign up to volunteer on Clean Up Day by joining a volunteer team designed to tackle a project in one of the affected communities, or organize a volunteer effort in your town if you are aware of a need. In addition to volunteer labor, skilled laborers such as plumbers, electricians, and heavy equipment operators who are willing to donate their time on this one day are needed.
• Donate to a specific need for a Vermont family through the “goods exchange” or through your local volunteer coordinator or food shelf. This list and your local coordinators will match needs with goods to help families who lost their homes and belongings get reestablished.
“The last several weeks have shown that we Vermonters have a natural instinct to help our neighbors,” said Lt. Gov. Phil Scott. “This statewide clean up day will lend some organizational support to help those who have the greatest need. With just a few weeks left before winter, we need to make every helping hand count."
Shumlin said he hopes businesses, communities, individuals, schools and other groups will enthusiastically participate in Clean Up Day projects, much as they do for the anti-litter Green Up Day event. He said the need for help providing everything from food to furniture, to mucking out basements and clearing debris, and much more has never been greater.
“I hope that all Vermonters will participate in this special day in at least one way – or better yet, all three ways,” Shumlin said. “If we all lend a hand and do a little it will mean a lot to those in need.”