Residents Unite To Clean St. Elmo Streets

Over 40 neighbors gathered Saturday at 8 a.m. along the Virginia Avenue Greenway in St. Elmo to “unite across differences, share in the commons, and keep St. Elmo beautiful.”

Saturday’s event bore a simple mission—encourage residents to gather around the helpful goal of street beautification, fellowship with neighbors, and enjoy neighborhood business rewards at the end of the event.

Seven block captains organized 40 volunteers across all ages, young and old.

The groups covered 15 square city blocks in St. Elmo and picked up 40 bags of trash off the Virginia Ave. Greenway and neighboring streets. They even enjoyed a visit from Officer Smith of the Chattanooga Police Department who handed out badge-stickers to the children.

St. Elmo Merchants offered tasty rewards. Clumpies Ice Cream Co. donated craft ice pops. ST. E L M O + c o f f e e offered a 30% beverage discount. Purple Daisy Picnic Café provided free BBQ sandwiches and drinks for volunteers.

Officials said, "The day’s success and unity is attributed to all the volunteers who came out to love their neighborhood and help their city flourish, to Scenic Cities Beautiful for providing supplies for the clean up, for the supporting St. Elmo businesses who graciously donated rewards, and for the Chattanooga Transportation Department and the Chattanooga Public Works Department who provided logistical assistance."