News

     An Operation Clean Sweep Thank you, our first cleanup of the 2010 Season started off with a bang!  Over 100 pre-registered volunteers were ready to roll up their sleeves and tackle a portion of Wards 1 & 2 to Celebrate Earth Day on April 17th…then the rains came.  For only the second time in the history of OCS, we had to postpone our cleanup due to rain.  Always a difficult decision, we did what we thought was best for the volunteers who would be out picking up wet garbage while getting soaked themselves, we cancelled our first cleanup to our Rain Date, April 24th…and guess what…hardly anyone came...
 
Undaunted, the volunteers who were able to attend on the 24th arrived with vigor and were ready to get out into the neighborhood and make a difference.  Some of our tried and true volunteers from previous years attended as well as first timers.  Students from New Bedford High and Voke participated to fulfill required community service hours.
 
We would like to thank the Salvation Army for providing sustenance in the morning and Domino’s Pizza for another terrific lunch.  Crystal Ice donated the ice and Seabra and Stop and Shop donated the water for our volunteers.  Almeida’s True Value donated the trash barrel won by Fernanda Alves in our Free Drawing.  A special thank you to Felice Monteiro and the Council on Aging who let us use the Brooklawn Park Community Center as our Headquarters location.  And of course, thank you to the City workers who volunteer their time with Operation Clean Sweep in an effort to help KEEP NEW BEDFORD CLEAN!
 
Volunteer Opportunity
Operation Clean Sweep hosted by St. Luke’s Hospital*
 
Saturday, May 15th 8:30 am until Noon (rain date May 22nd)
 
St. Luke’s Hospital Parking Lot
Page and Hawthorn Streets
Pre-register at www.operationcleansweep.net or call  509 979.1493  509 979.1493
Gloves and Tools provided.
Live Broadcast by FUN 107 and Lunch by Domino’s
*Volunteers receive voucher for FREE cup of St. Luke’s Award Winning Chowder!
 
Get your Community Service Hours!
Find us on Facebook
 
Gifts to Give Donation Drop off Site
 
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On June 20th, 85 Operation Clean Sweep volunteers cleaned up 1.68 Tons of trash in Ward 6.   A beautiful day greeted us as we worked side by side with Loretta Bourque and The Cove Street Neighborhood Association Family Fun Day.  It was a great collaboration as neighbors came out of their homes and participated in the events. 

Approximately 20 volunteers organized by Gallery X tackled the area around the Orpheum Theatre, Sam Barrows, the Clean up Captain estimated that they cleaned up an estimated 483 lbs.

Thank you Sunrise Bakery for their donation of coffee and donuts and to Domino's Pizza for another amazing lunch!
           
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Thank you!

On May 16th South Coast Hospitals Group hosted 183 Operation Clean Sweep volunteers.   Thanks to hearty OCS volunteers, volunteers from NEED (Neighbors Eager for Enlightened Development) and volunteers from St. Lukes Hospital @ 1700 pounds of trash was cleaned up in Ward 5.  Families, community service groups and individuals came out in full force to make a difference in New Bedford.  Ward 5 was a sea of green with volunteers out in bright green Operation Clean Sweep T-Shirts provided by FUN 107/WBSM and many business sponsors (listed below).  Live broadcast from FUN 107 and Domino's the "Official Pizza" of Operation Clean Sweep rounded off the event.  Raffles for hats, towels and of course a rodent proof trash barrel ended the day.
Thank you to Jim Rattray and Kathy Tsonis of St. Luke's Hospital and all of the staff for being amazing hosts at the Operation Clean Sweep Ward 5 cleanup.  Staff provided incredible support, tables, ice, beverages and goody bags filled with bagels and juice for all volunteers.  They donated towels and hats for our drawing too. The SouthCoast Hospital Health Van was on site as well for health screenings and blood donations...and the goody bags and coffee just kept coming...

Enjoy a Volunteer Video from April 18 Ward 2 cleanup

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A Sincere Thank you
Date: April 18, 2009 

150 Operation Clean Sweep volunteers cleaned up 3.44 Tons of trash from the streets of Ward 5.

Proud winner of the OCS Trash Barrel - Philippe!

Generous in-kind donations by:

Coffee and donuts donated by Dunkin' Donuts
Pizza by Domino's
Bristol County DA's Office for spokesperson Brian Rose
Fun 107/WBSM

Other Proud Sponsors
Anne Whiting Real Estate
Bristol County Screen Printing
Cold Stone Creamery
Fall River Ford
Long Built Homes
Symmetry Medical

Beaumont Signs
City of New Bedford
Pepsi
Veolia Water

Thank you, we couldn’t have done it without you!

On April 18th, 2009 - "Keep America Beautiful's" Great American Cleanup and OCS partnered with WBSM/Fun 107 along with many local and national sponsors to help 

                              "Keep New Bedford Clean"

Keep America Beautiful, Inc. is a national, nonprofit community improvement and public education organization, founded in 1953, whose goal is to form community partnerships dedicated to engaging individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments.  Through partnerships and strategic alliances with citizens, businesses and government, Keep America Beautiful’s programs motivate millions of volunteers annually to clean up, beautify and improve their neighborhoods, thereby creating healthier, safer and more livable community environments. The Great American Cleanup™ is one of its many programs that encourage people to care for communities through volunteer participation.

WHAT IS THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP™? 

Millions of Volunteers Cleaning, Beautifying and Improving The Quality Of Life In Communities Across America Every Spring!
Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup™ is the nation’s largest community improvement program, built on a foundation of individual responsibility and civic pride. In 2009, the program will mobilize over 3 million volunteers and participants in 17,000+ communities from coast to coast in a total of over 30,000 community improvement events… targeting areas of greatest need and getting the job done! Great American Cleanup™ activities improve the quality of life in each participating community. The Great American Cleanup™ is made possible through the support of Keep America Beautiful, local participating programs, millions of volunteers, and National Sponsors.

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Major victory for Operation Clean Sweep
Date: April 09, 2009

Mayor Lang announces a newly formed "Targeted Code ad Nuisance Ordinance Enforcement Team" 

A major victory for the New Bedford and particularly for the volunteers of Operation Clean Sweep.
For the past 3 years hundreds of volunteers have put in thousands of hours to cleanup almost 39 Tons of trash from the neighborhoods of New Bedford.  The 3 components of Operation Clean Sweep are Education, Advocacy for Enforcement and Organized Cleanups. 
 
Until now, much of the awareness of OCS has been on the organized cleanups…but we’re not just about cleaning up other people’s trash. 
 
Our goal is to change behaviors with regard to responsible disposal of trash  in an effort to improve the quality of life for everyone in New Bedford.
 
Education is key to reaching that goal.  While OCS does have an educational component, we know that we have a long road to go.
 
Enforcement motivates people to learn a little bit faster.
 
We are very pleased to hear that our Advocacy for Enforcement component has made an impact.  And we want to ensure that it will make an impact for years to come.  We encourage the Mayor’s office and the Departments responsible to report back (on a regular basis),  enforcement efforts. 
 
We want all of New Bedford to know that Code Enforcement is out and its doing its job.
 
We look forward to hearing how many warnings are issued and how many homeowners comply. 

We look forward to hearing how many tickets are issued and how many fines are paid. 

We look forward to cleaner streets and prouder neighborhoods as a result of the combined effort of the City Departments, the citizens of New Bedford and Volunteers of Operation Clean Sweep.
 
See Story in SouthCoast Today http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090409/NEWS/904090324

TOGETHER, WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN NEW BEDFORD!

Join the Operation Clean Sweep Team!  OCS is looking for volunteers with Communications and Development experience. 
Details available upon request. 

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Volunteer Appreciation Event
Calling all (Operation Clean Sweep) Volunteers!
Join us on Thursday, May 14th (during the "NB Seen" AHA! Night) for "The Big Picture" as we celebrate the work that YOU do! 

5:00   Register at Custom House Square (OCS Table) to         receive your Volunteer Badge
5:30   SMILE for the giant group photo! 
Bring/Wear your OCS T-Shirt for the picture!
5:45   Show your badge at participating AHA! venues all evening  long to enjoy special perks!
8:00 - 10:00  Enjoy a special Volunteer Reception at Catwalk Bar & Grille (34 Union Street)! 

Please visit the following participating restaurants and retailers and show your BIG PICTURE badge to enjoy special giveaways and gift raffle opportunities —- only for Volunteers! 

Business Address &  Volunteer Appreciation Specials
The Artificial Marketplace, 104 William Street  -  T-shirt Raffles
Be Jeweled, 25 Center Street Sterling Silver  -  Jewelry Raffle
Café Arpeggio, 800 Purchase Street  -  Chocolate Chip Cookie Sample
Catwalk Bar and Grille, 34 Union Street -  Gift Certificate Raffle Crowell’s Fine Art, 382 Acushnet Avenue   -  25% off on custom framing
Destination Soups, 141 Union Street   -  20% off all menu items Elaine’s T-Shirts & Costumes, 767 Purchase Street   -  Gift Certificate Raffle Hibernia Irish Pub, 104 William Street   -  Gift Certificate Raffle
No Problemo, 813 Purchase Street   -  Gift Basket Raffle
Vetu, 143 Union Street   -  Gift Basket Raffle and 10% discount on merchandise
The White Bouquet, 763 Purchase Street   -  Gift Certificate Raffle
All volunteers are also cordially invited to attend the 

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION RECEPTION, hosted by The Catwalk Bar and Grille, at 34 Union Street from 8 -10 p.m. !
Please join the fun!