Community Clean-Up Brings Help To Many

People helping people was the theme of the day Saturday as dozens of volunteers, local organizations and businesses gathered together for the Community Clean-Up to help property owners recovering from the devastating floods of November.

Community groups such as the Samaritan’s Purse, Merritt Rotary Club, City of Merritt, Royal Canadian Legion and Team Rubicon partnered with volunteers to shovel dirt, remove debris, and clean up what they could for approximately 20 sites on Saturday.

The event was organized by Merritt Flood Recovery, gathering volunteers together in teams, and heading to locations to do a variety of tasks such as clean out basements, landscape work, and maintenance to some 20 properties in the area.

Jerry Peddle with Team Rubicon who has been in the area assisting in the clean up, said his group appreciates the welcome they have received by the community.

“Everyone has been so gracious and kind,” Peddle said. “Our group is currently being housed at the Royal Canadian Legion in the city and they can’t do enough for us.”

Team Rubicon serves communities by mobilizing veterans to continue their service, leveraging their skills and experience to help people prepare, respond, and recover from disasters and humanitarian crises. According to Peddle, the organization has twenty people here in Merritt, however they are leaving the community at the end of April.

Following the clean-up volunteers were treated to a pulled pork barbecue sponsored by the Merritt Rotary Club.

“It’s wonderful to be part of something like this today,” said Leslee Lucy, President of the Merritt Rotary Club.” It’s just our way to say thank you to all the volunteers who are going above and beyond for Merritt.”

More To Come

Roger.White@pattisonmedia.com