Upcoming ‘We ♥︎ Nipomo’ volunteering event aiming to clean up community parks and streets

NIPOMO, Calif. - An all-volunteer event called "We ♥︎ Nipomo" is scheduled for this weekend with the purpose of helping to clean and spruce up parks and streets within the community.

Organized by San Luis Obispo County Fourth District Supervisor Jimmy Paulding, the 2nd annual clean up will take place on Saturday, Nov. 16 starting at 9 a.m.

For at least three hours, volunteers will take part in a number of improvement projects that are scheduled for Nipomo Community Park, as well as other key locations in the South County town.

"We ♥︎ Nipomo is an event where people can show up at Nipomo Community Park and volunteer to do a number of beautification projects in the community," said Paulding. "Last year was the first time my wife and I coordinated the event, and this year my office is really taking the lead and working with a number of other community organizations to boost turnout."

Paulding indicated he is hoping the event will attract at least 150 volunteers who are willing to roll up their sleeves and give back to their community.

"It's all about the volunteers and the partnership," said Paulding. "(San Luis Obispo County) Parks and Recreation has really stepped up to identify the projects within the park that need to be done. Nipomo Clean Sweep who does trash cleanup all throughout Nipomo has stepped up to do the Tefft Street cleanup project. We have the Nipomo Rotary involved, the Old Towne Nipomo Association, South County Advisory Council, trying to get students from the local high schools to come get community service and participate. It's going to be a great event."

Some of the projects that are lined up include trash pick-up, weeding, picnic table restoration, mulching, wood bollard replacement, and graffiti clean-up.

"I would say it would be very similar to working in your yard clean up your property, but you get to do it with a team of people and have some fun and put it towards a good cause as well," said Debbie Handy with Nipomo Clean Sweep. "We all live here and want to live in a beautiful area. The more people that come in, the more trash happens, the more it gets worn down and there isn't a feasible way to clean it up without taking advantage of the volunteers we have."

Along with the park, other areas slated for clean up includes Cesar Chavez Native Garden and adjacent Camino Caballo area, parts of Eucalyptus Road and Tefft Street in the Old Towne area.

"This is community spirit, community pride," said Handy. "We're actually encouraging people to go out for lunch afterwards to one of our great restaurants and relax, sit down, have a cold drink and revel in the work that we did and socialize with each other."

Volunteers are encouraged to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, a hat and/or sunscreen, and bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated.

Anyone interested in volunteering can click here to sign up for a particular project.

Volunteers may also show on Saturday at the Nipomo Community Park gazebo and choose a project they would like to take part in.