About 100 volunteers took part Saturday in the collaborative “Hands On Neighborhoods” program in the city of Jamestown. Seven events in all will take place from April through October. Pictured are Stella Wilson, Lauren Heil-Wilson, Cecilia Wilson and Brooks Landy. Submitted photo

The first neighborhood clean-up event of the collaborative “Hands On Neighborhoods” program was successfully completed Saturday in Jamestown.

About 100 volunteers and residents came out to help pick up litter and clean the sidewalks in the northside neighborhood between North Main and Washington streets, and between Sixth and 11th streets. More than 200 trash bags were filled.

Plenty of families and youngsters turned out, including the Northside Warriors football team, and a preschool class from Zion Covenant Church, who concentrated their efforts on Dow Park.

Asked of their favorite part of the day, many children responded: “Meeting Wiffy!” in referring to the white-striped mascot of the Tarp Skunks. Sophia, age 11, added that she liked “having a neighbor come out and share water bottles with us, and hearing neighbors say ‘Thank you,’ and seeing how clean it looked afterward.”

Asked why he thought it was important to participate in the community clean-ups, Alex Blakely of the Northside Warriors responded, “It helps build character. If we don’t clean up and help each other out who will?”

His teammate, Mathis Behr added “A clean community makes the people in the community feel cared about…”

The new program is intended to lift up neighborhoods, with seven cleanup events planned in Jamestown from April to October. The Chautauqua County Land Bank Corp., in partnership with the city of Jamestown, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, Zion Covenant and First Methodist Churches, are building a coalition of public, private and nonprofit volunteers to come together to engage with several neighborhoods.

This year, efforts will focus on the north side of the city. The clean-ups are one component of a multi-faceted program under development by the Land Bank.

The Hands On Neighborhoods — Jamestown project will host its city-wide Business District Clean-up the morning of Saturday, May 22.

Community members and neighborhood residents are encouraged to register to volunteer to clear garbage from the streets and sidewalks in the area. Pre-registration is encouraged at https://CHQlandbank.org/handson, and volunteers can register for this event or any of the other monthly event dates.

“This is an awesome way for members of our community to unite around the new vision for our city, to make a positive impact, and show our visitors the pride we have in Jamestown,” said Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist.