The Rhema students were among about 75 young people, including youth that participate in programs at the Bridge Youth Centre, local high school students and members of church youth groups. They spent a few hours Saturday picking up garbage along several downtown streets.

“I think it’s good that [the students] take ownership of their community by cleaning up,” says Steve Savoy, Grade 8 teacher at Rhema. “I think also when they see all the stuff that’s littered, it may get them asking questions like ‘Why are we producing so much waste in the first place?”

The Bridge Youth Centre spearheaded the cleanup and invited youth from various city schools and churches to participate.

Katie Kloosterman, a volunteer at the Bridge, organized the event as a component of her coursework in marketing at Sir Sandford Fleming College. Last semester she developed a marketing plan for the Bridge that identified several barriers the centre faces in gaining support. Among these were low awareness of the centre and the fact that youth in the downtown “can have a bad rap” by local business owners and residents.

She says the purpose of the event was two-fold: to clean up the neighbourhood and to raise awareness about the Bridge and the youth it supports.

“We really wanted to raise awareness that the Bridge exists in the downtown and in the backyard of a lot of people around the city who might interested in offering support as well,” she says.

The two objectives were definitely accomplished, she adds.

“We had more kids than expected, so that was really wonderful . . .  and a lot of them said they had a really fun time which was great.”

Several local councillors stopped by as well, she notes.

“They were very pleased with what we had done.”

A presentation about the event had been made to city council in the week prior.

Savoy says the activity helped raise awareness among the Rhema students about the Bridge and its services.

“I thought it was good to bring the kids down to the Bridge, to show them what it’s about. Although [the area] is not always a safe place for kids to be, the Bridge is making a difference in the lives of the kids who are in the downtown area.”

He says once they are older Rhema students may consider opportunities to support the Bridge by volunteering there.

Following the cleanup, a barbecue took place for all participants. Several local businesses donated funds to purchase event T-shirts and food supplies.

Partners in the cleanup campaign included the Downtown Business Improvement Association, Youth Emergency Shelter and the City of Peterborough Get Real Drop In Program.