Orlando, Fla. \u2013 More than 650 volunteers from First Presbyterian Church of Orlando spread out across downtown Saturday morning, picking up trash as part of the church\u2019s 150th anniversary celebration.<\/p>\n
The effort, organized in partnership with the nonprofit Keep Orlando Beautiful, sent volunteers along multiple routes through the downtown area to collect litter and help clean streets surrounding the historic church.<\/p>\n
During the event, Buddy Dyer issued a mayoral proclamation declaring March 7, 2026, \u201cFirst Presbyterian Church Day\u201d in Orlando to recognize the church\u2019s long history of service in the city.<\/p>\n
First Presbyterian Church traces its beginnings to March 1876, making it one of Orlando\u2019s longest-standing institutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are having a celebration this weekend in honor of our 150th anniversary as a church,\u201d said the church\u2019s senior pastor, David Swanson. \u201cWe started in March of 1876. So we had a big dinner last night, but part of our core mission since the very beginning has been to love and serve our city. And so whatever we did this weekend, we knew that we were going to be serving our city in some capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Volunteers were equipped with safety vests, grabber tools and buckets as they walked through downtown streets collecting litter. The city later picked up the filled trash bags.<\/p>\n
Swanson said the turnout was the largest group the nonprofit had ever coordinated for a cleanup effort.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have about 650 people here this morning, and Keep Orlando Beautiful just said that\u2019s the biggest group that they\u2019ve ever had to go out and serve the city. So we\u2019re pretty excited about that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Participants said the event was a chance to connect with their community while working alongside fellow church members.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s fantastic. It\u2019s a great way for our church to love our city and serve, and we\u2019re so excited to be a part of it,\u201d one volunteer said.<\/p>\n
Another volunteer said the group had already found a few unexpected items while cleaning.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. We\u2019ve picked up some full liquor bottles. Some containers. Some clothing,\u201d the volunteer said.<\/p>\n
Swanson said serving the surrounding community has always been central to the church\u2019s mission as a downtown congregation.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, I think we have always had a commitment to the value of being a city center church,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen you think about downtown city center areas, that\u2019s where you get the whole gamut of the human experience in a very concentrated area \u2026 and so we just believe very strongly in being downtown.\u201d<\/p>\n
Church leaders said they hope the cleanup effort reflects the same spirit of service that has defined the church for the past 150 years \u2014 and will continue to shape its future in downtown Orlando.<\/p>\n
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