Small Acts, Big Impact: The Hillsdale & Multnomah Spring Clean!
Saturday, April 4th was a beautiful morning where 45 dedicated volunteers gathered in the heart of our community, fueled by Sesame Donuts and a shared mission: to revitalize the Hillsdale and Multnomah neighborhoods.
A Morning of Remarkable Impact
In just two short hours, our volunteer teams removed an incredible 1,250 pounds of litter—over half a ton—from 15 different cleanup sites. This effort went far beyond traditional trash collection, as volunteers also:
Beautified the Wells High School community garden.
Enhanced local hiking trails with fresh gravel.
Restored public spaces by removing graffiti.
Promoted biodiversity by crafting native seed balls for volunteers to plant in their own home habitats.
Gratitude to Our Partners
This event was a testament to the power of local collaboration. We extend our sincere thanks to the organizations that provided the foundation for our success:
SOLVE: For providing essential equipment and three expert leads to manage the logistics.
Mittleman Jewish Community Center: For graciously hosting our meeting site in their parking lot.
Portland Police Department: For ensuring the safety of our volunteers and seamless traffic flow.
Community Leadership: We are grateful to Eli Arnold, Sharon Meieran, and Owen Gail (from Schirtznpantz) for their hands-on participation and for leading by example.
Supporting Local Business
We were overwhelmed by the generosity of our Hillsdale business community, which donated 21 raffle prizes to reward our volunteers’ hard work. Special appreciation goes to Paloma Clothing, City Thai, Basics Market, Schirtznpantz, Casa Colima, East Borough Shop, and Tango Crab for their wonderful contributions.
The Power of Ownership
There is a unique energy that arises when neighbors come together with a shared love for where they live and shop. The pride experienced in taking ownership of our community—even in small ways—makes our neighborhoods more vibrant, tidy, and welcoming for everyone.
Following the success of this inaugural event, we look forward to making this an annual tradition. We invite you to join us in future volunteer opportunities by submitting a Livability volunteer interest form as we continue to build a stronger, more connected community.