Neighbors band together to clean up south side community - KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

By Victoria Shirley

MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News)- Neighbors banded together this morning to help clean up the south side community in Monroe. Darnell Menyweather has lived in his South Monroe home for nearly 20 years and he says littered streets have long been an issue for his neighborhood. "It makes me feel bad when there's trash everywhere." said Menyweather. But over the past year, churches, non-profits and residents have ramped up their efforts to beautify south Monroe. Weldon Shoulders is the Emily P. Robinson board president, "The only way we can make our lives better is to do it together."

Tuesday morning nearly 100 volunteers, half of those residents, turned out to clear up litter on Malvern and Egan streets. Volunteer Carrie Watson says the cleaner streets will boost community morale. "It's going to help you feel better that you can look in the ditch and not see a whole lot of trash down there." said Watson.

"You know it's gratifying when you see the street and it's kind of overwhelming when you see the trash, then you look back and you realize how much you really cleaned up." said Alfredo Cruz of public charity Foundations for Louisiana, who traveled from baton rouge for the day. "It helps people feel better about where they live." said Cruz. His organization grants money to non-profits in the area. "As funders we keep in arm's distance of our grantees, usually. But in this occasion we wanted to really participate in the cleanup effort." said Cruz and his cleanup group even encouraged Menyweather to join in and the long time resident says he likes knowing he played a role in improving his community. "It just looks different, aint too much to say, it just looks better." said Menyweather.

The clean up happens on every 4th Tuesday of the month. Community members are encouraged to volunteer....call 387-1618 to get involved.