By Garin Groff / ADOT Communications

With this being National Volunteer Week, we’ve been figuring out the best way to show you the impact made by more than 900 volunteer groups who have adopted an Arizona highway.

And then we heard from volunteer Gene Van Dyken, who reports to us that his group’s weekly cleanups along Interstate 19 in Green Valley have already won the community’s appreciation.

“Yesterday a couple wrote in the (Green Valley) News, Letter to the Editor, “WE SEE YOU. The persons who get up early and clean the trash from the roadsides in Green Valley! We owe you a big thank you.”

Van Dyken is part of Green Valley Litter Patrol, an Adopt a Highway group that started about 2008 and has collected 3,182 bags of trash. The group volunteers every week, except during the hottest part of the year.

“We enjoy doing something that most everyone agrees is beneficial to our community,” Van Dyken said. “And we really like the camaraderie of the group. People notice the work we put into it.”

All of us at ADOT would also like to thank Van Dyken, his group and hundreds of passionate volunteers who collect litter across the state. Their efforts save taxpayers $500,000 a year!

If you’d like to be the next person or group to help beautify Arizona’s highways, we’re always welcoming new volunteers.

Check out our statewide map of highway sections available for adoption and learn more about the program.

By Garin Groff / ADOT Communications

Arizona is known for its scenic highways, whether they traverse deserts or forests, mountains or valleys.

But there’s more than geography at work, as our highways remain beautiful in part because more than 700 volunteer groups pick up litter along 1,500 miles of ADOT roadways.

Now we’re making it even easier for others to join our Adopt a Highway program by launching an interactive map showing which roadway segments are waiting for volunteers.

The map, available at azdot.gov/AdoptaHighway, allows visitors to quickly zoom in on any corner of Arizona to see adoptable highway segments. And with a simple click, you can connect directly to that highway’s Adopt a Highway coordinator.

Some volunteers tell us they’ve signed up because they’re winter visitors who want to get outside and enjoy Arizona’s scenery, while others do it as a memorial to a loved one.

Check out our new map, and maybe you’ll find your own source of inspiration to volunteer.

By Mary Currie / ADOT Communications

We arrived at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26, to the Three Points/Robles Junction Community Center, a scenic 25-mile drive southwest of Tucson. The crisp, 50-degree morning could not have been more agreeable for a morning highway cleanup.

Melissa Owen of Rancho Sierra Vista de Sasabe was preparing an information table and off-loading three large heated containers of breakfast burritos.

Four years ago, Owen made a decision to go big. She would invite the neighborhood to participate in a large-scale volunteer cleanup. The catch? Her neighborhood is a bit bigger than most. It’s the 45 miles of State Route 286 between Robles Junction/Three Points and Arizona’s border with Mexico.

This year, volunteers began rolling in steadily from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Explorers program. They were signed in and, after a safety briefing, assigned a mile marker to begin cleaning up. Owen wasted no time getting everyone organized and passing out safety vests and the program’s signature blue trash bags.

Before the meeting broke, I thanked Melissa for her volunteer service and the participants for their support. Melissa received an Adopt a Highway Certificate of Appreciation for 22 years of volunteer service and a hearty round of applause.

The slideshow above has lots of photos from the day.

As it turns out, more than just Owen’s neighbors showed up. I spoke with a couple from Oro Valley near Tucson, a friend visiting from Texas and a couple who flew in from New York to support the effort.

On the way to mileposts 3 and 4, our designated spot, we stopped to talk with a few volunteers. An Explorer told me he enjoys volunteering and considers it fun. Another found a red construction flag and held it high for the group photo. A student with one group said she didn't have a paper due this weekend, so this was a good way to spend her Saturday.

Volunteers found a bevy of interesting items: a Christmas elf hat, retail tags still attached; an unfinished needle-point project; and an almost perfectly intact javelina skull – not everyone’s idea of a perfect souvenir, but the finder was delighted.

This was Owen’s fourth annual “All the Way to the Border” cleanup, and one thing was clear: Her dream of cleaning all 45 miles in a one-day event is quickly becoming a reality. In 2018, she had 60 volunteers who removed 80 bags worth of trash from 25 miles of roadway. This year, 70 dedicated participants collected 210 bags of trash along 31 miles.

If you are interested in joining a cleanup event in your area, please contact me at  [email protected]. For more information about the ADOT Adopt a Highway Volunteer program please visit azdot.gov/adoptahighway.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The author oversees ADOT Adopt a Highway programs.

By Mary Currie / ADOT Communications

Melissa Owen of Rancho Sierra Vista de Sasabe is a proponent of good clean fun.

As a testament to that, Owen, part of ADOT's Adopt a Highway program, coordinates what she calls “the almost annual All the Way to the Border Highway Cleanup” along State Route 286 in southern Arizona.

Last year, 60 volunteers, including friends, family, neighbors, businesses, a couple traveling in from New Mexico and a Texas law firm associate met at the Three Points Community Center to join the litter cleanup. Trico Electric Cooperative and the San Fernando School Parents Association provided food for the volunteers throughout the day.

The volunteers picked up 80 bags of litter and a couple of bicycles on a 25-mile stretch that's more than half of the roadway between Three Points to the north and Sasabe at the Mexico border.

This time around, Owen’s goal is far bigger: a one-day cleanup along the entire 45-mile length of SR 286 scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 26.

Jesuit missionaries in the 18th century followed a trail that is now SR 286, and it's used by ranchers, wildlife refuge volunteers and those traveling to and from Mexico. It winds through the western edge of the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge and the eastern edge of the Tohono O’odham Nation, passing Baboquivari Peak and Kitt Peak along the way.

Owen, an area rancher, has been organizing litter pickups along scenic SR 286 since 1997. The photo atop this post shows her with a fellow volunteer at a 2016 event.

Ordinarily ADOT writes Adopt a Highway volunteer program permits for a time period of two years and a minimum of 2-mile sections along ADOT highways. Owen approached ADOT's South Central District with an idea: Would ADOT write an Adopt a Highway volunteer program permit for one day and 45 miles? The answer was yes.

Owen says organizing the estimated 200 people required for an endeavor on this scale will require more assistance from the community than she's arranged in the past. If you'd like to pitch in, her email is [email protected]. You also can email me at [email protected].

ADOT will be there Jan 26 to support the effort and these dedicated volunteers.

For more information about the ADOT Adopt a Highway Volunteer program, please visit azdot.gov/adoptahighway.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The author oversees ADOT Adopt a Highway programs.

By Mary Currie / ADOT Communications

With the holidays upon us, we're all pressed for time and gift ideas that wow.

I’ve got one for you. Rather than naming a star for someone, be the star by joining ADOT's Adopt a Highway volunteer program.

Adopt a Highway permit coordinators in your area are ready to help you locate a 2-mile stretch for your group to help keep litter-free. We supply trash bags and safety vests. You plan group cleanup events three times per year, report your litter and walk away a hero.

It’s the best gift you will ever give, to yourself and others interested in reducing unsightly litter on Arizona’s highways.

You could adopt a star. But Santa is watching, make him proud.

By Mary J. Currie /ADOT Communications

Adopt a Highway groups choose their segments of road for a variety of reasons: environment, community, teamwork and groups with like-minded beliefs.

What do they have in common? A commitment to removing unsightly litter and beautifying our highways.

More than 400 groups statewide adopted their segments as a memorial or remembrance of a friend or family member close to them. This isn't an easy subject to think about or write, but a subject that I want to share, including the silver lining.

It is my privilege to have met or conversed with group leaders who have shared their unique stories with me. The common thread: Memorial groups remember their loved ones by carrying out a meaningful service to the community in their honor.

If you are interested in a memorial adoption, please contact an ADOT permit technician located in your area for more information.

I will leave you with this:

Our son Clint passed away in September of 2007 at the age of 23. He loved the mountains and loved our family cabin in Pinetop. Spending time with his cousins and friends running around the forest was something that always put a smile on his face. As he got older his favorite thing to do was to go to Sunrise ski resort and snowboard.

We love the ADOT Adopt a Highway program that allows us, his family and friends, to honor Clint through keeping the highway and forest clean at Milepost 267 and in doing so remembering him.

Keeping Arizona Highways clean is important to us and being a volunteer through ADOT is our way of contributing to an important cause.

The Fluhr Family
SR 260, Milepost 267

Thank you to the Fluhr family and others who have shared their stories with me and who have found the silver lining.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The author oversees ADOT's Adopt a Highway program.

By Mary J. Currie / ADOT Communications

It’s a pretty good day when you can be part of something bigger than yourself and something that leaves a positive mark. That is exactly what some employees with our Northwest District office in Prescott did recently by thanking a lovely couple from Kirkland Junction for their volunteer service.

Walt and Nancy Einsele dedicated 14 years of service to their community and ADOT as Adopt a Highway volunteers. They made a great team, and their efforts made a big difference in litter reduction at milepost 295 and the surrounding area on State Route 89 near Wilhoit.

If Walt had his choice, he would still be out there cleaning, but for health reasons he had to retire his permit with the district.

We welcome volunteers who would like to fill Walt and Nancy’s shoes, and the community would welcome you too.

For more information about the Adopt a Highway volunteer program in all parts of Arizona, please contact us using the phone numbers on the Adopt a Highway District map. You can learn more about the program at azdot.gov/AdoptAHighway.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The author oversees ADOT Adopt a Highway programs.

By Mary J. Currie / ADOT Communications

Adopt a Highway Volunteer groups from around the state answered the invitation to participate in National CleanUp Day recently.

Bag collections so far have exceeded 192, and we expect that number to grow as more groups submit their litter activity reports over the following weeks. That morning, ADOT

Communications Director Tim Tait (driver and photographer) and I (volunteer-lookout and navigator) headed out from Phoenix on Interstate 17. We caught up with several volunteer groups in action near Chino Valley, Dewey and Heber/Overgaard.

It was our pleasure to personally thank each group for volunteering and answering the call to participate. We appreciated the warm welcome for our quick drop in and photo op! The photo at right shows me thanking Edward Gillum of St. Luke's Episcopal Church volunteering along State Route 89 in Chino Valley.

As we made our loop through Holbrook, Flagstaff and back to Phoenix, we saw quite a few ADOT signature sky-blue bags dotting the highways – the telltale sign of a successful day.

Volunteers in Wickenburg, Apache Junction, Oro Valley, Sierra Vista, Coolidge and Willcox also came out in force to show their community pride.

These groups deserve special acknowledgement for responding to the call to action:

• Sharon Lake, Sierra Vista Sunrise Rotary and Buena Vista High School Interact
• Doug Harris, Ponderosa Lions Club
• Kathy Berman, Bike Prescott
• Edward Gillum, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
• Kevin Mrotek, The Prescott Fun Activities Group
• William Valenta, Wickenburg Ranch Cyclists
• Michel and Chris Fluhr, Clint Fluhr Forever in our Hearts
• Monia Valencia, In Loving Memory of Denise Padilla
• Skyler Hardy, Hilton El Conquistador Hotel
• Deborah Greco, In Memory of Jack Rogers Adventurer
• Linda Philbrook, SasquatchMarc Philbrook We Love You
• Albert Koester, The Church at Sunsites
• Becky Smith, In Memory of Danielle L. Wolf
• Linda Serna, Loving Memory for Adelina and Mandy Martinez 

Thank you all for making a positive impact to your community and the state of Arizona on National CleanUp Day. We appreciate that you have chosen to participate in ADOT’s Adopt a Highway Volunteer program.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The author oversees ADOT Adopt a Highway programs.

By Mary J Currie / ADOT Communications

The term drop-in kitchen sink may sound familiar if you are into home remodeling. If you belong to the Adopt a Highway group Prescott Litter Lifters, a household item or appliance dropping into the right of way is, well, expected. You just never know what trash-du-jour awaits along the roadway.

This all started when I received an appreciative response from Farrish Sharon for posting a Secure Your Load article in the Adopt a Highway Summer Newsletter. Attached was the photo above showing a volunteer hefting a kitchen sink. She thanked me for reminding people to cover their loads and was not a bit surprised to hear that roadside debris causes 51,000 crashes in the U.S. annually.

Prescott Litter Lifters’ roots date back to 1981. Farrish and co-manager Nancy Piehl are the current leaders of 30 volunteers. It is not uncommon to meet a 10-year or even 20-year participants in this group. One dedicated volunteer recently retired at age 91. A few of the members have engineered creative and more efficient ways to pick up litter over the years, like inventing custom pick-up sticks adjusted to height, with grabbers at the end made of recycled bottle caps. And trash bag holders involving hoops that prevent the wind from closing the bag as you are filling it up. Genius, I say.

Custom tools for picking up litter

Retired from a 40-year nursing career, Farrish said the clean appearance of Prescott was one reason she and her husband moved to the area. They like seeing their city get clean and have shown their pride through Litter Lifters for more than five years. Nancy and her husband were involved in an adopt-a-street group in Phoenix. Shortly after moving to Prescott they saw an ad in The Daily Courier seeking volunteers to join the Prescott Litter Lifters. That was 10 years ago. “We’ve met the nicest people here who care about the environment!” she says.

The tremendous leadership shown by this dynamic duo really shone through during my conversation with Farrish. Two days a week on alternating days, she and Nancy are either leading a group or participating as volunteers. The teams lift litter for one-hour – max. And pleading for more time to continue is not approved. What?

Farrish recalled one particular outing where the group came upon a badly trashed area near a bridge. The end of the hour was nearing and she declined to allow the group to go forward, explaining that what is left behind today will be there next time. She cares for these volunteers and realizes there is no end to the litter. While it may seem like a good idea at the time, extra hours on the roadside may create safety issues, exhaustion and burnout. She wants them to return, so it is important to focus on the achievements of the day and share the bag count with them. The volunteers want to know how much trash they have removed from the roadside in order to measure their accomplishments.

What is even more impressive about Farrish and Nancy is the level of organization they bring to the group. Litter bag counts and volunteer hours are calculated, and volunteers are provided a monthly schedule revealing the dates, locations and meeting areas. These two make it look easy. What’s more is they will gladly mentor those interested in organizing their own groups.

It is not uncommon for this team to meet after each event for coffee at a local diner, Farrish says. Someone usually runs ahead to grab seats. What better way to connect with the volunteers, share the morning’s litter collection totals and talk about everything, including the kitchen sink.

Prescott Litter Lifters collects litter over 60 miles of city, county and state roadway around Prescott in 27 locations each week of the year. Volunteers are always welcome. For more information, visit http://prescottlitterlift.wixsite.com/prescottlitterlifter.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The author oversees ADOT's Adopt a Highway volunteer program.