Friends, Neighbors, Ozarkians, Lend Me Your Ears…and Hands!

They Came Not to Praise or Spread the Trash, But to Remove It, Leaving a Lasting Mark on the Ozark Community 

By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle

OZARK— What can 33 volunteers accomplish in just 90 minutes?

For Step Up Ozark, the answer is 73 big bags of trash, three discarded mattresses, a filing cabinet, broken chairs, and countless other pieces of debris removed from an abandoned homeless encampment behind Martindale Plaza.

The Saturday morning cleanup, held from 7 to 8:30 a.m., marked the largest volunteer cleanup effort in the organization’s history and showcased what organizers say is a growing sense of community pride in Ozark.

Thirty-three volunteers from across the community worked side by side to transform an area burdened by years of accumulated litter and discarded items. By the end of the cleanup, organizers had exhausted every trash bag they brought to the site after collecting 73 bags of trash, three mattresses, a filing cabinet, broken chairs, and other debris.

“This is the biggest cleanup we’ve ever done, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the huge outpouring of support from the city,” Step Up Ozark said in a social media post following the event.

The effort brought together members of Cub Scouts Pack 20, the Ozark Bureau of Police Services, the Carroll High School Band, Wiregrass Environmental Recycling, LLC, members of the Ozark City Council, and residents who volunteered their Saturday morning to improve their community.

Following the cleanup, the Ozark Bureau of Police Services praised the volunteers and emphasized that community pride begins with community action.

“A cleaner community starts with people who are willing to step up,” the department wrote in a social media post. “This morning, a group of dedicated volunteers came together to clean up the area behind Martindale Plaza, giving their time and effort to help make Ozark an even better place to live, work, and visit. We are incredibly grateful for their commitment to serving our community.”

The department also recognized its own officers who joined the effort, saying it was proud to have members of A Shift working alongside volunteers “toward the same goal of taking pride in our city and helping keep it beautiful.”

The Dale County Chronicle spoke with OPD Captain Jerome Niles about the officers who were involved in the cleanup effort. He recognized the following officers who lent a hand: Corporal Henderson, Corporal Lapeer, Officer Borges, Officer Bond, and Officer Glenn.

When asked why those officers participated in the cleanup, Niles pointed out that anytime there is a major organized cleanup, officers will want to be there for security reasons. He added he did not think the spotlight should be on the officers for performing their duties, but it should instead be on the citizens who volunteer their time regularly to help Ozak become a safer and cleaner place.

Concluding its message on social media, the department thanked everyone who participated, writing, “To everyone who volunteered, thank you for stepping up for Ozark. Your efforts make a difference, and they do not go unnoticed.”

Organizers also credited Wiregrass Environmental Recycling, LLC, whose donation allowed Step Up Ozark to purchase additional litter grabbers, work gloves, and a metal garden cart used during the cleanup.

Although volunteers made significant progress Saturday morning, organizers said the work at the site is far from complete.

“We made a big impact today,” the organization wrote. “This site isn’t done. There is still more to do out here. We’ll be back in a few weeks to continue the work.”

Step Up Ozark plans to announce its next cleanup event on its Facebook page in the coming weeks as the organization continues its mission of improving public spaces throughout Ozark.

Saturday’s cleanup demonstrated what can happen when residents, businesses, schools, civic organizations, law enforcement, and local government unite behind a common cause. In less than two hours, volunteers transformed an area that had become overwhelmed with debris, leaving behind not only a cleaner landscape but also a visible reminder of what community pride looks like in action.

The impact of the cleanup extended well beyond the 73 bags of trash removed from behind Martindale Plaza. It served as a testament to the power of volunteerism and reinforced the message that lasting change begins when neighbors choose to invest their time and energy into the place they call home. As Step Up Ozark prepares for its next cleanup, organizers hope Saturday’s success inspires even more residents to lend not only their ears to the call for civic pride, but also their hands.

For those interested in helping Step Up Ozark with its future cleanup endeavors, you can contact Adam Kamerer by email at [email protected] or by phone at (334) 733-3595. if you are interested in supporting the group but are unable to attend one of their group cleanup sessions, you may support them in other ways. Speak with Adam if you are interested in providing supplies or monetary assistance.