Belle Morris Community Action Group

Knox News: Belle Morris builds community pride with cleanup event

Belle Morris builds community pride with cleanup event

Chandra Harris-McCray, a member of the Knoxville community.

Originally published 08:35 a.m., October 13, 2010
Updated 08:35 a.m., October 13, 2010

The Belle Morris community in North Knox is working to build neighborhood pride and ownership with their first “Away with Waste” event.

The newly formed Belle Morris Community Action Group and the City of Knoxville will host the neighborhood cleanup Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 16 and 17.

The Belle Morris Community Action Group provides support to neighbors and families by addressing common issues and interests.

Small groups are being asked to organize, don some gloves and wear clothes they don’t care about getting dirty and collect trash littering the streets, alleys, neighbors’ houses, sidewalks and under cars during the cleanup weekend.

Carpet, cabinets, commodes and similar items can be dumped in the collection courtesy box, which will be located in the lot at the corner of Nadine Street and McCroskey Avenue.

The courtesy box will not accept tires, concrete, rock, dirt, gas or gas cans, chemicals, paint, pesticides, solvents, hazardous materials or construction debris.

“Everything from paper, bottles and plates, to old torn shirts, hats and even an extremely old boot can be found on street corners and in our neighborhood,” said Sandy Salmen, who is a member of the action group.

“We need to take back our neighborhood and bring our community together for this important event,” she said.

The event also is an opportunity for neighbors to meet and greet. A reception table will be available for volunteers to partake in snacks and baked goods. Donations of food, paper plates, cups, tables and chairs are needed for the event.

“This is our first event and we are hoping, with the help of David Massey, neighborhood coordinator with the City of Knoxville’s Office of Neighborhoods for the Community Development Division, we will have an event that changes the look and feel of Belle Morris,” Salmen said.

The Belle Morris community dates back to the 1920s.

“The community action group has only been around for a few months, but already we have seen improvements in our neighborhood,” Salmen said.

To learn more about the Belle Morris Community Action Group, visit http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/Belle....

North Knox columnist Chandra Harris-McCray is a freelance contributor for the News Sentinel.

This story is contributed by a member of the Knoxville community and is neither endorsed by nor affiliated with this site.

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