It was tidy up time across the town last Saturday.
In what has become a popular community event, hundreds of Innisfil men, women, boys and girls donned gloves and wielded bright yellow garbage bags in the annual Pitch-In Day.
The roadsides, ditches and culverts across the municipality were emptied of tonnes of trash, including tires, pieces of wood, take-out coffee cups, fast food wrappers, beer and liquor bottles, pop cans and more.
For John Carter of Stroud, participating in the event was a real eye opener.
“I’ve lived in Stroud for eight years but this is the first time I’ve participated in Pitch-In Day,” Carter said. “It’s great for the environment and good for my health, too.”
He’s asking other Innisfil residents to sign up for next year already.
“Help keep the Town clean so we can enjoy it, without having a mess around.”
Keith Woods and Tammy Feltham of Barrie, members of the North Simcoe ATV Club, were pleased to ride a few kilometres south to offer their support.
“My parents live here,” Woods said. “Also, Innisfil opens up their roads to us so we don’t mind lending a hand. We’re pleased to help out.”
Down in Alcona, several clean up crews were hard at work.
A trio of teens from Nantyr Shores Secondary School, Nadine Robberts and Jennifer and Megan Coleman, worked on a stretch of Innisfil Beach Road heading west of Lake Simcoe towards the 25th Sideroad.
While happy to be involved in the activity, there were some unsavoury aspects to it, Jennifer Coleman said.
“It’s just crazy how many cigarette butts there are. It’s disgusting.”
Close to a kilometre away, accompanied by a fire truck, a large team of people of all ages organized by the Alcona Business Association was filling up dozens of Pitch In bags.
All volunteers were treated to a complimentary lunch at the Churchill Community Centre at noon hour. Members of the Friends of Innisfil Public Library served up BBQ’d hot dogs, pizza, cold drinks, coffee and dessert treats, all provided at no charge from more than a dozen corporate sponsors.
“There is no budget for Pitch In Day,” said Mayor Brian Jackson. “Everything is donated. This is a job the Town can’t do on its own.”
For participants such as Grant Bennett, Pitch In Day takes on even a greater relevance.
“If you take a little bit of time in your community, it becomes a little bit more of your area, and you respect it a little bit more.”
Today's Weather 
A few clouds and 27°C
A few clouds and 27°C
