Yesterday, SOLVE volunteers across Oregon and Southwest Washington came together to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy through meaningful community action. This annual event encourages community members to contribute to positive change and strengthen connections within their neighborhoods.
At the heart of this year's efforts was a major cleanup event at Irving Park in Portland, proudly presented by Kaiser Permanente. Close to 350 volunteers gathered to support the Historic Albina Neighborhood and surrounding areas, working together to remove litter and beautify the community. The event exemplified the spirit of service and unity that Dr. King championed.
"Kaiser Permanente is proud to partner with SOLVE for this year's Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service," said Ron Shoals, Community Health Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northwest. "We know that cleaner communities are healthier. 80 percent of people's health is determined outside of the clinical environment, and most significantly by the socioeconomic conditions in the neighborhoods where people live, work and play. Our partnership with SOLVE reflects our shared commitment to fostering healthier environments for everyone."
In addition to the Irving Park event, dedicated volunteers participated in impactful projects across the region. These included a forest restoration effort at Mary S. Young Park, a restoration day at Westlake HOA Oak Woodlands, planting and propagation Day of Service organized by the Water Resources Education Center Vancouver, WA, a Multnomah Village trash and graffiti cleanup organized by the Multnomah Neighborhood Association, a community cleanup led by the Hockinson High School Band in Bush Prairie, WA, the ongoing Tidy Up Downtown Hillsboro initiative, and a land tending event at Powell Butte organized by the Johnson Creek Watershed Council.
Overall, SOLVE's Irving Park event engaged nearly 350 volunteers who collectively worked along Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and the surrounding neighborhood to remove 2,100 pounds of litter making a lasting impact on the community.
"SOLVE is proud to be part of a powerful movement, caring for our city and communities beyond Oregon in memory of Dr. King. This Day of Service is more than just picking up trash; it's about fostering community connections and empowering individuals to actively better their neighborhoods," said Kris Carico, CEO at SOLVE. "The collective effort showcased during this event is a manifestation of the power of individuals coming together to create positive change."
SOLVE provided free cleanup supplies, event planning support, and access to a volunteer registration platform to empower individuals and groups to lead their own service projects. This commitment reflects SOLVE's mission to inspire collective action for a cleaner, healthier environment.
For more information about SOLVE and upcoming volunteer opportunities, please visit our events calendar.