Adopt-A-Block DTJC
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Who We Are
Our Roots
Hi! I am a rising senior in high school who has lived in Jersey City for thirteen years. When I was walking around during the COVID-19 pandemic, I noticed the immense amounts of trash on our streets, especially masks and gloves. I decided I wanted to help clean up our city and make this a city-wide program! This is my fourth year running this program, and the first few years were a great success. I hope that we can continue to grow our volunteer numbers this summer. Thank you for helping us keep Jersey City clean!
"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together"
Vincent van Gogh
Sign up for Adopt-A-Block DTJC
Common Questions
Who are you and what is the mission of “Adopt-A-Block”?
At Adopt-A-Block, our goal is to keep our city clean. We were walking around downtown Jersey City one day and noticed the immense amounts of trash around the sidewalks. Gloves, masks, and other unsightly trash were all over the place. We picked up as much as we could but figured that others may want to help, and decided to expand!
What does it mean to “Adopt-a-block”?
By “adopting” a block, you are telling us that you would like to help keep the sidewalks of that downtown Jersey City block free of trash or litter. It does not mean that you own or have rights to the block!
How does this work?
You can choose to “adopt” a block (or two or more!) located in downtown Jersey City if it has not already been adopted. We will keep track of which blocks have been adopted. You can help to pick up scattered trash on both sidewalks of that block. Please do not clean the roads/streets, as mobilized street-cleaners can take care of that. We do not want people to get hurt in the roads/streets. In addition, please do not go into others’ private yards or property.
What do I need to participate?
Although it is not strictly necessary, we strongly suggest investing in a garbage grabber (~around 10 dollars, Garbage Grabber Link) to eliminate the need for you to physically touch the trash. You will need a garbage bag to collect and dispose of the garbage appropriately.
How old do you have to be to participate?
You can volunteer at any age, however we strongly encourage children under the age of 13 to be accompanied by an adult. This can be a fun and personally rewarding summer family activity over the summer!
How long do you “adopt” the block?
The suggested duration for this event is from the start to the end of the standard summer months. It is up to you how often you monitor the block to maintain a clean standard. We suggest monitoring at least once daily.
Why should we participate?
This is a good community service opportunity to keep children occupied and get them outdoors while helping their community. It is also a great way to keep our environment clean. At the end of the program, we will email you a certificate of participation for this event! Let’s keep Jersey City clean and beautiful!