Look out for 4-H members during highway cleanup Saturday

Motorists across Manitoba are being asked to slow down and watch for young volunteers along several highways this Saturday as 4-H Manitoba clubs take part in their annual highway cleanup.

Drivers may notice vehicles parked along roadways with hazard lights flashing, as well as youth wearing orange safety vests collecting garbage from ditches between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Shannon Carvey, executive director of 4-H Manitoba, said safety is a top priority during the cleanup.

“If everybody can just kind of keep an eye out for our kids,” Carvey said.

She added there will be safety measures in place throughout the day.

“There will be signage, so there will be some signs out, and the 4-H leaders, the adults of each club, will be monitoring as the safety officers for the day,” she said.

Motorists urged to slow down in cleanup zones

This year, 13 clubs from across Manitoba are participating in the cleanup effort, which is done in partnership with Manitoba Transportation.

“Highway cleanup is a long-standing relationship between 4-H Manitoba and Manitoba Transportation, and it gives our clubs an opportunity to engage with their community, cleaning garbage from the ditches,” Carvey said. “It really gives our members an opportunity to take pride in their community.”

Carvey said the program also recognizes the work 4-H members do to support and improve their communities.

“It is a way of recognizing that our 4-H members are invested in their communities and that they are working hard and taking this opportunity to work together as a group to really just spruce up the highways that lead into or out of their communities and create a nicer environment for all of us in Manitoba,” she said.

It’s also a fundraising opportunity for 4-H clubs.

Motorists are reminded to slow down, stay alert, and watch for pedestrians near cleanup areas.

Highway cleanup locations include:

If you are driving on any of these highways, please slow down and watch out for pedestrians

Highway 283

Highway 44 starting around Rd 44E

Highway 24 west of Rivers

Highway 2 west of Holland/1-5 km Railway Street

Highway 236

Highway 10 between Highway 45 and Highway 357

Highway 5 west of Roblin

Highway 11 – Siegs Corner to Highway 307 and Seven sisters townsite

Junction of Highway 10 and 5 east

Highway 240 start at the intersection of Highway 2 to Rd 51N

Highway 218

Highway 3A from Clearwater east

Near Morden/Winkler areas