A small marker, surrounded by the green and quiet nature of Dickens Park, says “Service Over Self.” And, on a dewey Saturday, all aspects of the phrase were met with both enthusiasm and effort.
On June 17, the nonprofit organization, Can’d Aid, teamed up with Wild Basin Hard Seltzer for four national cleanup projects. The first event kicked off at the nonprofit’s home city of Longmont, helping clear the St. Vrain Creek area of micro trash. Around 50 volunteers showed up, ready to ‘beautify’ the area and create a better local environment.
“From just a pedal glance, the park looks perfectly fine,” said Corby Yarbrough, Can’d Aid gig worker and emcee of the event. “It’s the micro trash that we emphasize. It’s amazing how much little stuff you can find at these events. To the naked eye, it looks great, but in the end, you have 20 bags of trash.”
During this series of cleanups, those small pieces of debris are what the nonprofit looks to find. Though the parks and waterways may look clean, cigarette butts, wrappers and other tiny trash find their way trickling down streams.
Can’d Aid was started in 2013 after significant flooding in Longmont. Though starting in disaster relief, they have now stretched into community-building projects. From local bike builds to cleaning efforts, Can’d Aid looks to help build communities throughout the country. Since its inception, the nonprofit has distributed over 3 million cans of water and over 13,000 skateboards and bikes for underprivileged youth.
In their press release for the event, Can’d Aid stated that these beautification projects have led to 24,450 lbs of trash being diverted from landfills and 2,508 lbs of aluminum recycled.
Though the organization has its eyes on national work, it always maintains a sharp focus on its home area.
Yarbrough noted the beauty of the Longmont community, stating, “It’s good to show out on our home turf … It’s not just writing a check to a cause. It’s being together and seeing a group accomplish something that helps their home. That’s the icing on the cake.”
And that unity as a city, despite booming growth, is what keeps Longmont nature clean and sightly. The willingness to help for a cause is what keeps Longmont on the tips of tourists' tongues.
