Mayoral Message

Have you ever felt inspired and frustrated at the same time? One beautiful Saturday morning, I joined several residents in a trash pickup along Interstate 15 here in St. George. These were civic-minded people surrendering time from their busy schedules to help keep St. George the beautiful, safe, and inviting place that we all fell in love with.

I shared many laughs, met some great people, and enjoyed some exercise. It was a fantastic experience. Yet I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of melancholy. We picked up thousands of pounds of trash from a one-mile stretch of road. How much other trash sat throughout the city?

Out of this frustration grew optimism. I watched a small group make a difference. By increasing the manpower exponentially, I know we can thoroughly rid this city of litter. I am confident that people will be less likely to leave trash if the streets are already clean.

Join me and, I hope, thousands of other volunteers from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on September 11, 2021, as we participate in the National Day of Service by picking up trash countywide ahead of the Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship. Let’s welcome the world to a city with pristine streets.

As I write this, we are still working on details, so please check our homepage (sgcity.org) for the most up-todate information on how you can help. I know one thing for sure: we need you! As they say, many hands make for light work.

For those unavailable that day but still wanting to help, you are more than welcome to organize your own cleanup. The non-profit organization Love Where You Live has great resources and tips (Facebook: @ LoveWhereYouLiveUtah).

I would also encourage you to volunteer for the Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship (September 17–18), the St. George Marathon (October 2) or the Huntsman World Senior Games (October 4–16). Consider volunteering for all three! The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship relies upon the efforts of 5,000 volunteers to put on a great event.