Beautify Londonderry, a long running, volunteer-led program that organizes beautification projects in town is in crucial need of new members to join their organizing committee. Half of the current members had to bow out recently due to various medical issues after serving over ten years with the program.
To keep the program running, the committee is looking to add three to five new members. The time commitment is limited compared to many other volunteer positions in town since the program only runs in the spring with some lightweight planning in October to get organized for the spring effort.
Typical volunteer activities include emailing past volunteers, ordering and picking up supplies, managing social media, coordinating activities with the town, coordinating volunteers, taking photos, inventory and soliciting donations. While the program is running volunteers spend 4-5 hours per month helping.
In addition, after a two-year hiatus from fundraising, the committee is seeking donations from local businesses to sponsor their efforts. Donations are used to purchase supplies for roadside cleanups, mulch and plants for landscaping, repairs and replacements of the “Welcome to Londonderry” signs at the border. They also fund efforts to recruit volunteers including signs, flyers and advertisements and they pay for “thank you” t-shirts for participants.
Beautify Londonderry offers four levels of sponsorship: Leadership Team – $1,000 or more. Partnership Team – $500 – $999. Sponsorship Team – $250 – $499 and Friendship Team – up to $250. Leadership and Partnership sponsors will be featured on future volunteer t-shirts and all sponsors are thanked with an advertisement placed in the Londonderry Times.
Over the years Beautify Londonderry has focused on two primary areas, the first being roadside litter pick up. Originally called Roadside Pride before being merged into Beautify Londonderry, this effort was organized by residents John Loker, Maury Lavoie and Andy Morneau.
This part of the program recruits and equips citizen volunteers to pick up trash from a variety of roads in town. Most volunteers work in or near their neighborhoods. Beautify Londonderry tries to focus on the areas that are the messiest. These tend to be the roads in town with double yellow lines. The program is happy to support clean up efforts anywhere in town. Volunteers are given trash bags, gloves, safety vests, water and a commemorative t-shirt.
The second thrust of the program is planning and organization of adornment projects at town facilities and common areas. Usually this involves spring cleanup, mulching and sometimes plantings. Specific projects vary from year to year. In the past, efforts have focused on the schools, town offices, fire stations, the senior center, the town common, as well as other town properties.
There is a strong need for volunteers as the number of potential projects and road cleanups always greatly exceeds the usual volunteer manpower. In the past, volunteers have been individuals, families, scouting groups, sports teams, school clubs and businesses.
Anyone interesting in learning more about the committee, sponsorships or simply volunteering can contact Mike Byerly, Beautify Londonderry Chair at mbyerly@londonderrynh.org or 537-9551.