More than 50 volunteers from the Pepsi distribution center in Windsor, Conn. came to Westfield for the cleanup effort.
Lauren M. Roache, 13, left, and Olivia R. Clark, 10, help beautify the grounds of the Greater Westfield Boys and Girls Club and the Amelia Park Children's Museum Saturday.
The cleanup was done by volunteers from the Pepsi distribution center in Windsor, Conn., which sent work crews and supplies to 16 communities throughout New England on Saturday. It was made possible through a grant from Pepsi that provides a crew of volunteers and supplies to do a spring cleanup of the properties in preparation for summer.
Children’s museum Vice President Diana McLean said the two organizations applied for the grant as one, a grant to which no clear dollar amount is attached, but instead provided the sweat equity of volunteers from Pepsi.
“They brought a caravan of vehicles loaded with cleaning supplies and crews of volunteers,” she said.
Matthew R. Gilligan, territory sales manager for the Windsor Pepsi facility, said communities that do business with the company were asked to submit applications from which the 16 were selected. In choosing which projects to support, ease of the task was considered.
“It had to be something that volunteers would be capable of doing,” he said. “We’re just helping hands working in the community. The volunteers are Pepsi employees and their families.”
Surveying the completed work, McLean said the extent of beautification that was completed could not have been done without the Pepsi crew.
“We could not have done the same quality work without them,” she said. “They weeded the entire area, turned over the flower beds, cleaned the vegetable garden in back of the Boys and Girls Club and got it ready for planting.”
Jaclyn Parks, boys and girls club marketing and development director, said Green Meadow Lumber of Westfield is donating the mulch that will be used to beautify the properties.
The day’s hard work was rewarded with a free catered barbecue lunch by Famous Dave’s Restaurant, also provided by Pepsi.
“We wanted to make sure everyone was well fed,” Gilligan said.