The Midtown community hosts a neighborhood clean-up each semester. The spring cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, March 23. The cleanup will be held in two shifts, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers will meet at the Cox North parking lot.

Every year the Midtown neighborhood association organizes the neighborhood clean-up to aid residents with disposing of clunky items that cannot fit in their garbage cans. They also aid with the disposal of yard waste.

The Midtown cleanup is more than just an opportunity to serve. It is an opportunity to make connections.

“Students will get to meet Midtown residents, which there are a few of Drury staff and faculty that live in the Midtown neighborhood,” said Ellen Herbig, of Drury’s Community Outreach and Development Office.

Apart from making connections with local Midtown residents and Drury faculty and staff, it is an opportunity for students to branch out. Community Outreach of the Ozarks provides the dumpsters and will be on site for students to learn about other opportunities to make an impact and gain personal and professional connections.

“For students, it is a great opportunity to make some professional connections,” said Herbig. “Every time I am there I get to meet more people from Drury and make connections that way.”

Another major focus for volunteers is the greater impact on the Springfield community. The Midtown area is on the northern side of Springfield, where poverty levels tend to be much higher than the updated south side.

“Doing service in the north side really helps people in Springfield who have lived here for a long time and can’t move south because of income,” said Herbig. “It is also important for us as an institute of higher education in the Midtown neighborhood to support the things happening in midtown and try and make Midtown a nice place to live.”

The Midtown cleanup is designed to leave a positive impact on residents and allow students to make personal and professional relationships that they would not otherwise have the chance to make. The sign up for the event can be found at drury.givepulse.com.

Article written by Elaine Choate.