This year’s Fall Clean-up was a success in more ways than one. On October 11th, volunteers fanned out across the city to pick up trash and scatter California Poppy seeds.
Several organizations pulled together resources to make this event happen. WM provided a huge roll-off trash bin, Renee Rivera and the California City Chamber of Commerce provided the meeting place, tools, trash bags and safety gear, Safe Haven provided water bottles for the crew, REACH who had provided the stash of trash bags, and gloves also provided fresh produce from the Farmers Market and promotion of the event, West Best Pizza provided Pizza for lunch, The Desert Rose Garden Club secured a donation of California Copy Seeds from Stover Seed Company of Sun Valley, and an additional 5 lb. bag of seeds was purchased through generous donations from the people to I Love Cal City. Organization of the event, tools, gathering of trash bag and more was provided by I Love Cal City.
The day began at the Chamber of Commerce building at 9:00 A.M., where Renee Rivera and Beckie Vasquez welcomed volunteers and signed them in. They picked up the supplies needed, trash bags, grabbers, gloves, safety vests, and in some cases, shovels, rakes, and brooms for removing weeds and sweeping the gutters. Duane Vasquez described the activities of the morning and the locations within the city that can use some love.
While this was going on Pastor James Robinson was working outside, mowing the lawn at the Chamber Building with his lawn mower.
The volunteers took off to pick up trash and remove weeds. Each of them took a bag of poppy seeds to sprinkle on the ground. By replacing trash with flowers California City will be a much different place in the spring.
Councilman Jim Creighton, former Mayor Jeanie O’Laughlin, Ginny Gillum, Beth Boone with her grand kids and others worked on the field adjacent to Dollar General. Dina and Daniel worked along Hacienda Blvd. North on Neuralia was tackled by Terra and her son Marley. Mayley’s wanted to help clean up on his birthday. Monique made it her personal quest to clean up along the fence at the Dog Park and the old Par-3 Golf Course. Cristina headed north on Lupine Loop Drive. Duane Vasquez, Mike Gillum and Diane Perry, hopped in a truck and picked up mattresses, chairs and other bulk items dumped along the roadside. Councilman Ron Smith used his trailer to pick up bags full trash, and barrels full of weeds and to assist in clean up.
The end result was a huge WM dumpster filled to overflowing, a much cleaner city, and the promise of native flowers growing in the spring. Thanks to everyone who helped out!
At 11:00 everyone gathered back at the Chamber building to drop off their supplies and sit down for pizza and some fresh fruit. They shared some stories, and prizes were given for The Most Money Found, The Most Unusual Piece of Trash, and The Funniest Item.
It was a great morning of building community and beautifying our city. The next quarterly clean-up will be held on January 10th, 2026.
Follow I Love Cal City on Facebook for daily spot clean-ups and regular updates. Go to the community calendar on ILoveCalCity.org to keep up to date on all community events.
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