When illegal dumping added to Chester’s trash problem, the community came out to clean things up, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times.

Volunteers from Making a Change Group, The Bridge Church and Covanta cleaned up near Edgemont Park Apartments and the Benjamin Banneker Homes this past weekend, pickup up illegally dumped trash and furniture.

“We realize the city has a trash issue and an illegal dumping issue. So we’ve been coming together with like-minded individuals, determined to clean our city up and help city officials with the load,” said Cory Long, founder of Making a Change Group.

Chester Mayor Thaddus Kirkland said trash issues have hit the city as contractors deal with sick employees from the coronavirus.  Workers were either quarantined, laid off or so overwhelmed they quit.

Long said his organization was supporting “Chester Sweeps” a new group of residents that has been holding bi-weekly clean ups.

Chester Sweeps’ young volunteers have been coming out every other Saturday  doing clean ups.

Next week, they will be on Ninth and Ward at Memorial Park.

Read more about this community effort and find out how to volunteer to help here.

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