Reading’s Public Works Department and Environmental Advisory Council needs volunteers for a citywide cleanup Oct. 13 through 18.

The effort will kick off on Columbus Day, also known as Indigenous Americans Day, with neighborhood cleanups in the vicinity of Reading High School and the Reading School District’s five middle schools.

The day is a federal holiday, and there will be no classes for students in the district.

Bethany Ayers Fisher, city sustainability manager, and Ryan Bradley, clean city coordinator, said the cleanup is a great way for students to earn community service hours.

Ayers Fisher and Bradley outlined the opportunity last month at the Reading School Board’s regular meeting.

“We are offering two hours of community service with public works and city staff and other volunteers around their middle schools and high school neighborhoods, doing litter cleanup, cleaning the dreaded storm drains and walking around and really seeing how they can impact their community just by picking up a little bit of litter,” Ayers Fisher said.

Students of all ages are encouraged to participate, Ayers Fisher said, noting elementary school students must be accompanied by an adult.

Bradely said the event includes an educational component, teaching students about proper waste disposal. It also aims to foster a sense of community responsibility among students.

“We want to just build relationships and start educating our students about the environment,” Bradley said.

Oct. 15 will include a trash-a-thon in partnership with Fairview Christian School, 410 S. 14th St.

This will be the 14th year for the school-organized citywide litter pickup, Bradley noted.

Volunteers are welcome to join the effort, he said.

Groups of volunteers also are needed to pick up litter at various locations throughout the city Oct. 14 through 17.

The cleanup will culminate Oct. 18 with a Dumpster Day event and litter pickups at locations throughout the city.

Reading to hold Dumpster Day household cleanout event Oct. 18

The fall cleanup is part of the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Pickup Pennsylvania Program.

For more information or sign up as a volunteer, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd52g30ANp3ps3s21hWaBiNkmzqtCAC87EZPEaelRfKt6wevg/viewform.