Student Volunteers Brighten Up Castle Hill
On August 18, volunteers from ASEZ, the university student volunteer group of the Church of God, cleaned up Randall Avenue. They held the Castle Hill neighborhood cleanup as part of their “Reduce Crime Together” campaign. Through this campaign, volunteers raise awareness on the impact clean environments can have in making communities safer.
ASEZ conducts an array of activities to not only cultivate cleaner and safer communities, but also encourage united efforts to reduce crime worldwide. Students also partner with government officials and entities to revitalize public spaces, improve quality of life, and promote happiness.
This time, to carry out the cleanup, ASEZ partnered with New York State Assemblywoman Karines Reyes and the 43rd Precinct of the NYPD. Volunteers from various institutions across the Bronx and even Staten Island joined forces to rid Randall Avenue of litter. Moreover, by doing so, they created a pleasant atmosphere for the residents of Castle Hill.
Working Together for the Safety and Happiness of Our Communities
New York State Assemblywoman Karines Reyes worked alongside the volunteers, sharing words of encouragement with the volunteers.
“We hope that this plants the seed, and that people take ownership of the community, and start to really pay attention to how we affect the environment and how we affect the space we live in,” said Assemblywoman Reyes.
It is with this sentiment that the ASEZ university students carry out cleanups. ASEZ students’ sincere hope is to inspire others to engage in behaviors that will benefit their communities. With this mindset, they fervently cleaned the streets, and most importantly, they did it in unity. In the end, they collected more than 400 bags of trash, which the NYC Sanitation Department properly disposed of.
“I’m feeling really good about it. Before you could not even see the other side of the street, but now it’s all cleaned up. This makes it safer for everyone,” said one of the student volunteers from Lehman College. “As you can see, there is a school there [by Randall Avenue], so it’s safer for the children as well. And that makes me really happy.”
Working to Fulfill the SDGs and Save the Earth From A to Z
At the end of the cleanup, the volunteers and residents were ecstatic to see the result. Although the work was difficult at first, the volunteers followed Heavenly Mother’s example with concern for their community. Now, many people will be able to enjoy brighter and cleaner streets.
The ASEZ students in the Bronx are determined to continue making efforts to bring joy and happiness to their neighbors. Their work is part of a global movement being carried out in more than 175 countries. It’s all to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and Save the Earth from A to Z. To learn more about ASEZ and how you can join the efforts on your campus or local community, please contact us!
Also, read about ASEZ in the Bronx Times.
One Response
ASEZ, the university student volunteer group of the Church of God, gathered together to clean up Randall Avenue. They wanted to inspire others to engage in behaviors that will benefit their communities. I am proud of ASEZ, a volunteer group that does such good work. We can feel God’s love through the members of ASEZ, who cares for their neighbors. I support the members of ASEZ who practice God’s teachings and spread love with all their hearts.