September 27, 2026
Today on September 27, 2026 was our monthly environmental cleanup organized by the York Region Caring Lions Club and A2ZLiteracy Reading and Writing Club. This time, we had more volunteers than usual. As usual, we divided the kids into small groups and encouraged them to work with people they didn’t already know.
At Nordlingen Park in Markham, there is a pond and a quiet trail surrounded by trees. The kids walked along the paths in small groups and carefully looked through the grass and bushes for litter. Though it was fun to see people becoming quicker to spot and pick up trash, I think volunteering is about more than just picking up garbage. For example, after the cleanup, we gave everyone a chance to introduce themselves and talk to someone new. Some kids had recently moved to Canada. Some discovered that they went to schools in the same school board, even though they attended different schools, so they started talking about their classes and school experiences. For some people, starting a conversation with a stranger can be difficult, but taking that first step is the hardest part. This also made me realize that volunteering can be a simple way for people around the community to get outside, meet people, and become more connected.
Thank you to everyone who came out today, and thank you to all the parents for supporting us!
