(Seguin) – Residents on the city’s west side will be sprucing up their neighborhood. A band of volunteers including a large group of students at Texas Lutheran University students, will be hitting the streets for Saturday’s annual Spring Clean-Up/Day of the Dogs Service Day.
The effort to help their neighbors cleanup their homes was started years ago by Seguin City Councilman Chris Rangel and his wife Ileen who live in the Dolle Street area. It has since grown into a partnership with the city of Seguin and Texas Lutheran University.
Ileen says cleanups restore the environment and empower people and all while connecting neighborhood communities. She says their belief in creating a safe and nice neighborhood started well before her husband was elected to the city council. She says this is a testament that making a difference can begin with anyone.
“I see it all the time. There’s a huge change that has happened since we’ve started this almost 12-13 years ago. They start seeing that sign go up on the fence post that says that the clean-up is happening and all of a sudden, you start seeing everybody putting the things that they themselves can’t take (to) the big trash or just wanting to do their spring clean-up or fall clean-up and know that this is an opportunity for them to get rid of things that is a little harder for people to get rid of when we don’t have the help,” said Rangel.
Ileen says what makes the clean-ups even more special is the partnership with TLU students. She says together, the effort has made a significant impact and has reaffirmed the students’ residence in Seguin.
“This year, we have about 65. During the spring, we usually have the football team and the soccer team and baseball. We have several different organizations that are helping us — the softball team.
There’s been so many TLU sports people (in) the spring one because usually in the fall, they are busy with their sports. So, we have a lot of them doing their team building. This is their community too. They are housed in the same neighborhood, so they really love doing it and we want to make sure they are having fun because if they aren’t having fun, what’s the use of doing it,” said Rangel.
Ileen says volunteers will be going door-to-door to assist residents with items to dispose of properly. Residents are also encouraged to bring their unwanted items from around their home and yard for disposal at the corner of Dolle and Jones Streets. She says Saturday is also a great opportunity to join the volunteers and help make a difference.
“If they see they have a neighbor that needs help and they can bring the stuff for them, I say if you can help your neighbor, please do because that’s the only way that your neighbor is going to get help. Sometimes, people worry about well they have children or they have somebody else.
Well, if their children really wanted to help or they could help, they would have done it. So, if you see somebody who needs help and you can do it, I strongly say ‘please help them!’ We are supposed to be here to help our neighbors,” said Rangel.
Those with a truck and trailer and wishing to help are asked to contact Chris Rangel at 830-557-3436.
The clean-up will be held Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.