Adopt-A-Block Program

 

Block Captain Responsibilities

Adopt-A-Block Captains sign up to care for your block for a one-year period. If at any time you move or need to end your participation for any reason, you may do so by notifying us. At the end of your one-year period, you are able to renew your block adoption. As a block captain, your commitment is to maintain your block, and any storm drains within it, free of litter and debris on an ongoing basis, to communicate with your neighbors about your efforts, and to encourage them to get involved as well. Spend four hours per month (weather permitting) cleaning up your block and reaching out to neighbors. This could include picking up trash when you return home from work each day, a once-a-week pickup with family or a few neighbors, or a larger monthly cleanup where everyone is involved. 

Tools & Supplies

Each block captain receives a cleanup kit that includes a litter grabber, garbage bags, gloves and an Adopt-A-Block T-shirt. We will provide you with additional gloves and trash bags as needed during regular business hours.

Block Boundaries

The size and shape of the block you would like to adopt is entirely your choice. A block is considered to be between two streets. Some captains choose to adopt multiple blocks. You are responsible for cleaning up both sides of your street, and the side of each alley that pertains to your block, including storm drains. If you have any questions about your boundaries, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Ways to Engage Your Neighbors

ORGANIZE EVENING OR MORNING WALKS (WEEKLY, MONTHLY):

• While walking your dog, meet with neighbors.
• Organize a nature walk of a nearby nature area or park.
• Pre-cleanup walk:
  • Scope out with your neighbors what needs to be cleaned in the blocks and alleyways before your actual cleanup.

OFFER FOOD (TAKE TURNS WITH OTHERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD):

• Host an ice cream social.
• Meet for brunch (weekly, monthly). 
• Hold a fish fry at a local park.
• Offer coffee and doughnuts for morning cleanups.

GO DOOR TO DOOR:

• Pass out the Adopt-A-Block door hangers from Keep Huntington Beautiful. Leave some cleanup supplies (trash bag, gloves) for the neighbor to get started. 
• Drop off invitations and reminder fliers for events.
• Print your fliers and newsletter in both Spanish and English.

HELP A NEIGHBOR:

• Clean a neighbor’s yard, especially an elderly or disabled neighbor.
• Have a “Gutter Clean-Out Day”. 
• Do a tool swap – borrow a shovel and let them borrow a rake!
• Clean up the yard of a vacant house or abandoned house. Pick up the trash, weed-eat and mow.
• Encourage neighbors to identify properties that continue to have issues around littering and regularly report violations, such as illegal dumping and graffiti.

ENGAGING WITH KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS:

• Meet with the parents of children interested in helping to clean the street. Get their permission to involve the child and explain to them what you are trying to do.
• Ask the children to offer refreshments at your cleanups.
• Encourage your school-aged children to engage other kids in the neighborhood.

ENGAGE INSTITUTIONS TO HELP:

• Recruit university students to help canvass the neighborhood and help with cleanups.
• Partner with a neighborhood school, church or business and invite their youth groups and/or staff to volunteer at your community cleanups.
• Invite a Keep Huntington Beautiful representative to a block meeting to encourage and inspire your neighbors to get involved in cleaning up the neighborhood.
• Speak with local merchants to see if they would be willing to donate goods and/or services for your projects. Don’t be afraid to ask; they may even join you in the cleanup!
• Use your neighborhood organization as a platform to recruit more captains to be involved, enhance communication and reach a larger audience for volunteers.

FORM A GARDENING ACTIVITY CLUB:

• Work on each other’s yards or focus your energy on common spaces such as medians, neighborhood entryways or community gardens.
• Organize a neighborhood Garden and Flower Show, where neighbors can take tours of each other’s gardens, or neighbors can create competitive bouquets with flowers from their own gardens.
• Hold a beautification contest for the most beautiful yard – Award the “best yard”!
• Organize a tree-planting with Keep Huntington Beautiful.

KEEP AN UPDATED ROSTER OF ALL ADOPT-A-BLOCK CAPTAINS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD (ADDRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS AND E-MAILS):

• Organize regular weekly (such as Saturday mornings or afternoons) or monthly cleanups and rotate the blocks you will work on.
• Hold monthly front porch meetings or social gatherings.
• Make personal phone calls inviting and reminding neighbors of community events, using the block roster.
• Create a block newsletter highlighting events, personal stories and neighborhood history.
• Find out who adopts a block in your area by using our Adopt-A-Block map.

RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS:

• Recruit new Adopt-A-Block captains during your annual neighborhood cleanup, if you already do one.
• Ask neighbors who are already cleaning up in their yards to participate officially through Adopt-A-Block.

USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO CONNECT WITH TECH-SAVVY NEIGHBORS AND SHARE YOUR EFFORTS:

• Facebook, TikTok, Blogging, X, Snapchat and/or Instagram.
• Join our Adopt-A-Block Captain Facebook page to connect with other captains.

OTHER HELPFUL TIPS:

• Wear a Keep Huntington Beautiful T-shirt when you work to formalize your cleanup activities.
• Always smile and wave.