Adopt a Highway: Promoting human kindness

You may have had an opportunity to drive past a group of Adopt a Highway volunteers bagging trash or participating in a cleanup. Here is a friendly and fair warning that if this has not yet happened to you, my experience shows that ADOT volunteers find a sense of well-being alongside others who take pride in keeping roadways safe and litter-free. I’ll explain further.

These individuals give personal time and resources to a task that at times can be downright yucky, although the “trashy” part, which encompasses most of the activity, is somehow overshadowed by the fellowship of volunteers working together. It is a beautiful phenomenon. 

If you are already a group leader or thinking about it, here is some great advice learned from longtime group leaders like Prescott Litter Lifters’ Farrish Sharon. Schedule cleanups weekly and limit it to 60-90 minutes for the safety of volunteers. Frequency is preferred to prevent burnout and keep volunteers interested. If weekly gatherings are not feasible, monthly or quarterly schedules shared with your team go a long way to help individuals plan ahead for the cleanup.

Groups like the AZ Hikeaholics, Prescott Litter Lifters, Green Valley Litter Patrol, All the Way to the Border — and the list goes on —  schedule regular cleanups and also invite the public to participate in their events.

We always welcome new humans and kindness into the program. If you’d like to form your own group of volunteers with family, friends or an organization, join us with a team of two or 22. Check out the steps to get started on our website, azdot.gov/AdoptaHighway.

If you’d like to learn more about the accomplishments made by these heroes in 2024, click here to read it in the ADOT News.