KINGMAN, Ariz. – Kingman residents hit the streets Saturday morning for the annual Day of Caring, a community cleanup effort organized by River Cities United Way, the City of Kingman Solid Waste Department, and the Clean City Commission. The event drew well over 100 volunteers, with more continuing to sign up throughout the morning.
City Solid Waste Superintendent Eddie Tapia said the turnout exceeded expectations.
“We have well over a hundred volunteers that have already signed up,” Tapia said. “We’re probably expecting another 50 or so to come up and sign up to work with United Way and the Clean City Commission. We’re providing the volunteers with all the materials they need so they can go out and do litter pickup.”
Volunteers fanned out across major roadways and high‑traffic corridors, collecting trash along Beale Street, Hualapai Mountain Road, Stockton Hill Road, and Andy Devine Avenue all the way to the DMV. Bagged litter was hauled by city crews to one of three large dumpsters placed strategically in areas of concern.
Even our own Allen Scott got in on the action—though not always gracefully.
“This certainly isn’t as much as everybody else is doing, but at least I’m doing something,” I admitted while attempting my own litter pickup. “The darn plastic bag was so old it scattered all over the place when I tried to pick it up. I’m making more mess than I’m cleaning up here. Oh well, we’ll stay after it. I’m sure others are doing a lot better.”
Tapia said planning is already underway for next year’s cleanup.
“Anytime we have an event like this, we’d love to have people come out and sign up,” he said. “Look next year, maybe in April—we don’t have a designated date yet—but once we get that date out there, save the date. We’re more than happy to have you come out and volunteer. We’ll take a group and we’ll take individuals as well.”
Among the groups participating this year were members of the Soroptimists, including representatives from both the adult chapter and the Lee Williams High School S‑Club. Linda Owens, a Soroptimist member, said the organization views the Day of Caring as an important part of its mission.
“We are a volunteer group for not only the community, but internationally,” Owens said. “We believe doing service in the community is the best way to reach out and let people know that we’re here. We’ve been doing the Day of Caring for years.”
After several hours of cleanup, volunteers across town were ready for a break—and in my case, a promise of ice cream. So, I wrapped up the morning at Baskin‑Robbins, purchasing my own two scoops of chocolate mint in a waffle cone, a fitting reward after a long day of community service, shooting, and a little litter pickup, very little.
Like hundreds of others who pitched in, I was a little whipped but glad to have played a small part in helping Kingman shine.
