The Hamline Midway area is cleaner thanks to this neighborhood champion.
Jennifer Schuetz Hadley makes her neighborhood stronger by helping coordinate monthly trash pick-ups and by serving on the board of the Hamline-Midway Coalition (HMC). Disposing of trash brings the treasure of relationships with nature and making a positive impact “downstream.”
How did you get started volunteering with community trash pick-ups?
I’m an aquatic ecologist so I’ve always been concerned with water quality of our lakes, rivers and streams. After moving to the Midway area from New Mexico seven years ago, I started by adopting a drain to keep trash out of our water ways. I also adopted a nearby trash can near at Sherburne and Snelling. It’s a busy pedestrian area prone to litter, so I advocated for adding the container and I provide the bags and empty it. One day it was dumped over but I was too busy to stop right away. When I finally got back there it was all cleaned up by some other kind soul. I posted a thank you message on the Hamline-Midway Neighborhood Facebook group.
We have so many pedestrians – it’s something I can do to make the area more beautiful and livable.
What is rewarding about this work?
It feels good to know I’m doing something that makes the neighborhood better for everybody. I’ve been helping to coordinate our part of the annual City Wide Spring Clean Up for four years, as well as monthly group events from March through Sept/Oct. It wasn’t until later that I learned the effort was focused on parks – we just kept going around the area! It’s not just me, there are so many of us out there doing this work. I often see dog owners picking up trash on their daily walks.
The group clean up events also build friendships through the neighborhood, which makes my heart happy. You start to know your neighbors. When an older volunteer got Covid, fellow volunteers reached out to see what she needed and helped out.
What’s happening for the year ahead?
First, I have to say I have an amazing fellow coordinator in Kevin Sands, who helps with all these efforts. I was able to help the Hamline-Midway Coalition get a mini-grant from Thrivent to help promote and support the group clean up events. Anyone with investments or life insurance there can request a community action grant. New this year, I helped HMC write a grant that was funded by the Capital Region Watershed District to double our outreach efforts and better plan our trach pickup events. We can put up twice the number of yard signs at intersections to advertise clean up efforts. With this grant, the HMC transportation committee will also promote ways to reduce the use of salt during the winter to keep it out of the water, and HMC encourage folks to clean up the leaves from curbs/gutters in fall.
How can others help?
All you need to do is grab a plastic bag, gloves and go on a walk! Trash grabbers from Axe-Man or Menards help it go faster. You can often find those for just $5. If you want to try a group event, in your neighborhood, join the City-Wide Spring Clean Up Day in April.
Inspired? Volunteer in Saint Paul parks! From Wildlife Monitors to Park and Garden Stewards, there are ways to make a difference that connect you to nature. Learn more