City leaders are urging residents to roll up their sleeves and join the annual cleanup effort on May 3. It’s not just about picking up litter — it’s about showing pride in your community.

Fort Wayne officials are counting on thousands of residents to pitch in this May during the Great American Cleanup, a city-wide trash and debris collection event that’s as much a social gathering as it is a civic duty. Streets, parks, trails — no spot’s too small. And with free t-shirts and lunch in the mix, there’s more than one reason to show up early.

Community First, Trash Second

It starts early. Between 8 and 9 a.m. on May 3, volunteers will scatter across Fort Wayne — garbage bags in hand, gloves on, maybe still shaking off the morning chill.

But they’re not alone. City officials, community organizers, and neighbors from across town will be out there too, taking pride in their streets. It’s not just about cleaning up—it’s about coming together.

One sentence, but it says a lot: “This city belongs to all of us.”

Deputy Director of the Fort Wayne Solid Waste Department, Angela Parks, said last year’s turnout was “incredible,” and she’s expecting the same, if not more, in 2025.

A Look Back at the Numbers

Let’s talk stats for a second, because they tell a story of their own.

• In 2024, more than 3,200 volunteers hit the streets.

• They collected an estimated 168,000 pounds of litter and debris.

• That’s like hauling away 84 tons — roughly the weight of a fully loaded Boeing 737.

Those aren’t just numbers. That’s hundreds of hours people gave up — willingly — for the betterment of their city. And the payoff? Cleaner neighborhoods, happier residents, and a more livable community.

What’s in It for Volunteers?

Well, beyond the good karma and cleaner sidewalks, quite a bit actually.

Volunteers get:

• Free garbage bags, gloves, and branded t-shirts

• A community party at Headwaters Park from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Food, drinks, prizes, and live music

It’s a bit of everything: work, celebration, and a chance to reconnect with others in the city. Kind of like a block party with a mission.

And if you’ve got kids? Even better. Several schools in Allen County encourage student participation for volunteer hours. It’s community service with snacks at the end.

Registration and Logistics: What You Need to Know

The event is easy to join. No hoops, no red tape.

Registration is available online through the city’s website. Interested folks can also reach out to the Fort Wayne Solid Waste Department directly at 260-427-1345 or shoot an email to greatamericancleanup@cityoffortwayne.org

You don’t have to be in a group to sign up, but churches, scout troops, neighborhood associations, and office teams are encouraged to come together.

Volunteers Talk: Why They Keep Coming Back

Martha Jenkins has volunteered four years in a row.

She’s 67, retired, and says it’s one of the best days of the year. “You meet people you wouldn’t normally meet,” she said. “You wave at folks in neighborhoods you don’t live in. You start to care about parts of the city you never thought about before.”

Two sentences later, she’s talking about hauling a soaked mattress out of a ditch last year. Not glamorous — but meaningful? Absolutely.

Teenagers, retirees, office workers — the crowd is a mix. Everyone’s got a reason, and nobody seems to regret it.

Why This Year Feels Different

There’s a sense around city hall that 2025’s event could be the biggest yet.

Why? For one, community awareness has spiked. Local schools and businesses have done more to promote the event this spring than ever before. Plus, after a long, salty winter that left roadsides especially grimy, people seem more eager than usual to freshen things up.

Also — and this matters — the city has worked to make the event more “rewarding,” as one official put it. Think better entertainment at Headwaters Park, upgraded prizes, and smoother logistics.

One staffer even joked: “If we can make trash pickup feel like a festival, we’re doing something right.”

Not Just About the Litter

There’s a bigger picture here too.

Events like these build trust in local government. They reinforce that public services aren’t just something “out there,” but part of people’s everyday lives. And they remind residents that even in cities with tight budgets and real challenges, some things — like cleaner streets — are still totally doable with community effort.

There’s no fee, no pressure, and no downside. Show up, do what you can, and you’re part of something. That’s enough.

One city. One day. One goal: less trash, more pride.