PHX Perspective

Support Sky Harbor Coalition Gather Volunteers for Neighborhood Cleanup

More than 90 volunteers, including city of Phoenix employees, members of the Support Sky Harbor Coalition and local residents spent the morning Saturday Nov. 20 sprucing up streets and sidewalks in a neighborhood just west of the Phoenix Sky Harbor. Phoenix City Councilmen Claude Mattox of District 5 and Michael Johnson of District 8 (both pictured in the photos above) joined the volunteers as they picked up trash, chopped down weeds and removed graffiti.

The Support Sky Harbor Coalition partnered with the Nuestro Barrio and El Campito communities, the Wesley Community Center and several city of Phoenix departments to make this happen. Wesley Community Center opened its facilities for volunteers during the cleanup.

Support Sky Harbor is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to educate the community about the economic and quality-of-life benefits of the Airport. It is supported and funded by more than 75 companies and community organizations. Not only did the Support Sky Harbor Coalition cover all of the expenses for the cleanup effort, it also donated the funds to refurbish and retrofit an existing city trailer and fill it with tools. “More than ever, the City appreciates the private sector stepping up and making a difference in our community in these times of a reduced budget and employee workforce,” said Councilman Johnson.  

The Coalition will reserve the trailer twice a year for community cleanups around Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. During the remainder of the year, neighborhood associations throughout Phoenix will have access to the trailer to conduct neighborhood cleanups. "We look forward to creating a positive impact in the community surrounding Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport though our partnership with the city of Phoenix and surrounding neighborhoods," said Ralph Ketchum, Support Sky Harbor Coalition Chairman.

Local company, Wilson Electric had more than 20 employees attend the cleanup. And ShelterCLEAN of Arizona donated the use of its graffiti removal truck, as well as another truck to help pick up trash.

Deputy City Manager, Jerome Miller, is encouraged to see local companies giving so much to the city of Phoenix and its residents, especially in tough economic times. “The tool trailer sponsored by Support Sky Harbor Coalition is the only one of its kind. Any other private-sector companies or organizations interested in a similar sponsorship are encouraged to call the Phoenix Neighborhood Services Coordination Division at 602-534-2393,” said Miller.

First posted: 11/23/10