We’ve provided this checklist to help you and your team complete your clean-up project.
Let’s get started!
HUDDLE (Get Organized)
Build your team: The first thing you need to do is to recruit volunteers. You need to be sure that you have enough people on your team to get the job done. Remember, there’s something out there for everyone to do. Kids, neighbors, sports teams, church members, classmates . . .everyone can pitch in.
Discuss the plan: Identify the project your team will be working on. Residential neighborhoods, businesses, parking lots, fields, cemeteries, parks or anything that needs work is a possible clean-up goal. Remember to consider safety for everyone involved first. Though a busy street may seem like an ideal place to spruce up, it may be too dangerous for a litter collection, especially for children.
Game time: Set a date and time for your project. You may not be able to set a time that works for everyone, but consider a time that works for most of your hard-working volunteers. People who recognize the importance of this project will make the time to be there.
TAKE A SHOT (Take Pictures if you can)
Before Photo: Take a picture (or pictures) of the area that your team is working on before you get started. You might be surprised to see the difference you’ll make.
During Clean up: Get pictures of people picking up trash and working hard to make a difference. These photos will serve as an encouragement to keep the area clean and to form more clean-up teams.
Suit up (optional): Your team can buy their own Team-Up-To-Clean Up t-shirts for the day of your project. Simply call the Escambia County Office of Public Information at 595-3638 and ask where you and your team can buy them.
GAME DAY (Ready. Set. Go!)
Keep Score: Wouldn’t it be great to know how many people helped, how many trash bags were filled, how many miles were cleaned during a period of time? You can help track those numbers by estimating your work and completing the scorecard provided. This SCORECARD may help.
Know the Rules: This part is very important because failure to follow the rules can create a losing situation. Be sure to learn about how to sort waste, how to dispose of waste properly, how to handle hazardous material and recycling before you get started. Knowing what to throw away and how to do it keeps people and our environment safe. Remember that there may be disposal fees related to disposing large amounts of waste. Be sure to contact your garbage collection agency for more information.
VICTORY DANCE (After the Clean-up)
Tally the Score: Use to the SCORECARDE provided in this link and complete the information as best as you can and fax it along with your team information to 595-3277.
More Pictures for the Fans: Now it’s time to get”after” pictures. Photograph the area that you worked on. If possible take them from the exact same angle as you did before your started your project.
Most Valuable Player: Each residential neighborhood is encouraged to vote for a yard of the month. Simply have participating volunteers anonymously vote for the yard they feel should be recognized. Their vote can reflect any quality they wish such as most improved, cleanest, or best-looking yard. If possible, please take a picture of the yard-of-the-month and submit it to customer_service@co.escambia.fl.us (if digital) or mail them to Escambia County Office of Public Information at P.O. Box 1591 Pensacola, FL 32591-1591.
