Pitching in to clean-up the town
By Chris Simon

Pitch-In Day coordinator Kim Creamer picks-up a pop can from a ditch along Lockhart Road Monday afternoon. The Photo by Chris Simon town is looking for volunteers for their annual Pitch-In Day, which takes place on Saturday.

It's nearly time to sweep the town green.

Innisfil's annual Pitch-In Day will take place at various locations throughout the municipality on Saturday. Last year, participants cleaned-up nearly 10-tons of garbage from ditches, roadsides and other areas of concern, said coordinator Kim Creamer.

"On May 10th, we get out all the general public and whoever else wants to participate. They go out and clean the designated areas or any area they would like to clean," she said. "Our road crews do go out and try to do some general clean-up, but the Pitch-In program really helps to get a lot of garbage off the road. It helps make people aware of what is out there. People just don't realize how much garbage is out there until the snow starts melting. It's sometimes very disappointing to see what people toss on the side of the road."

This year, several organizations have already committed to participate. Local Lions clubs, the Beaver Colony, 1st Alcona Scouts, the Innisfil District Association, Lefroy Minor Hockey players and the North Simcoe ATV Club are among several groups who have pledged to participate.

And all this week, most town schools will host their own Pitch-In clean-up efforts.

All interested volunteers are being asked to sign-up at the Stroud, Alcona, Lefroy or Cookstown fire stations by 9 a.m. Saturday.

At that time, safety tips will be reviewed, and garbage bags and latex gloves will be handed out.

Secondary school students are being encouraged to participate, since they can use the time to earn their mandatory volunteer hours. Those students are required to bring their Community Involvement Activity Forms for signature by a volunteer firefighter or committee member, in order to receive acknowledgment, said Creamer.

"Basically, we have all the schools participating," she said.

For about 10 years, Pitch- In Day has played a valuable role in beatifying and cleaning up the municipality following the winter thaw, said Creamer.

"(This is) to help clean-up the community; help to keep the beauty of our roadsides and ditches," she said. "Due to the long winter, lots of people have thrown garbage everywhere.

We like to see if we can get it all cleaned up. Hopefully, our main areas will get as tidied up as we can and looking good for the summer months. I hate to see garbage all over the place."

Refreshments will be served upon sign-up, while an appreciation barbecue will be held at the Churchill Community Centre at 12 p.m. For more information, call Creamer at 436-3710 or 456-3353, or e-mail pitchin@ innisfil.ca.