Green-a-Thon combines fall cleanup with fundraising

By Elizabeth Sheeran

Open space is a precious commodity in Somerville. But not every open area in the city is an oasis of natural beauty, and efforts to make Somerville a greener place are often held back by financial limitations. Groundwork Somerville, a local non-profit, recently set out to tackle both those problems in one day, with its first annual Green-a-thon, Saturday.

Volunteers met at multiple sites around the city, to gather trash and recyclables, and to rake leaves for composting. Participants also collected sponsorship pledges to support Groundwork’s local programs, which include teaching gardens in all Somerville public schools, green jobs for teens and young adults, tree planting and conservation projects, and advocacy for sustainable development.

Fred Hicks learned about Groundwork when his twin sons joined the garden club at the Kennedy School. He said taking part in the Green-a-thon at Junction Park was a way to take some ownership for a neighborhood space his family can enjoy. “My hope is that more people would get out from time to time if you’re using the space, to get involved with the maintenance of it,” said Hicks.

More information about Groundwork’s programs is at www.groundworksomerville.org.