ADOT volunteers support Earth Day mission

Grab a vest and pitch in. 

That’s what more than 30 Adopt a Highway volunteers did last week on Earth Day, a very special Tuesday during National Volunteer Week. See the entire photo album here.

After a 6 a.m. safety briefing, participants outfitted with safety vests and trash bags cleaned a stretch of ADOT right of way along the Salt River, a location below the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway bridge typically cared for by ADOT maintenance crews. 

Jay Osegueda showed up smiling with wife, Stacy and “his and hers” rakes in to help corral trash. The couple adopted a stretch two years ago along US 60 in Gold Canyon with their group, Desert Nature Alliance. Stacy said, “I have met so many people that would love to be part of these events, but for different reasons they can’t, so that’s why we do it.” 

Andie Atondo and five team members from CivTech Inc. showed up vested, gloved and ready for a trash-busting mission. Andie said, “We wanted to come out and join ADOT on Earth Day to help clean up. We usually do a fun activity every month, so this was our activity to give back.” 

By this time two hours had passed and 49 trash bags filled – about 650 pounds worth of trash. Volunteers gathered hundreds more pounds of construction debris and broken shopping carts for removal by ADOT maintenance crews. The most interesting finds were three electric rental scooters dragged from the brush and mud near the river.

Anica Martinez and three representatives from Trane air conditioner manufacturing stopped to talk with me while filling their last bags. “We have a community involvement group, and being Earth Day today we felt like it was the best thing to do,” Anica said. “ The amount of trash that gets distributed over time is insane and so we just want to do our part.” 

I’d like to thank everyone who showed up for making a positive impact on planet earth, including: Janice and Brynlee Rogers, Susan Fravel, Richard Padilla, Gary Kramer, Keri Bieber, Dawn Carter, the Maricopa Association of Governments, Off Madison Avenue and Tempe Marketplace security.

If you’d like to celebrate the earth with your own 2-mile stretch along a state highway, or join a future cleanup event, please contact us and visit azdot.gov/adoptahighway.