30 Volunteers Collect 695 Pounds of Trash in Groveland

Thirty volunteers armed with trash bags and determination proved what a community can accomplish in a single Saturday morning last year in Groveland, California.

The fifth annual Groveland Facelift is happening this Saturday, September 12, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Mary Laveroni Community Park. Last year's crew hauled away 695 pounds of garbage from local trails, roads, and public spaces near Yosemite National Park.

Volunteers will spread across Groveland collecting trash and recyclables from trails, roads, and recreation areas. The event is completely free, and organizers provide all cleanup equipment whether you register in advance or show up the day of.

Among last year's haul were some surprising finds: an old Singer sewing machine, a personal blender, several coolers, and a broken telescope. These unusual items joined hundreds of pounds of regular trash collected from Evergreen Road, Highway 120, Old Priest Grade, and areas along the Tuolumne River.

The cleanup is an extension of the larger Yosemite Facelift, an annual event organized by the Yosemite Climbing Association to remove trash from climbing areas and trails throughout the national park. Local organizations including Visit Tuolumne County, Groveland Trail Heads, and Echo Adventure Cooperative are partnering to make it happen.

The Ripple Effect

What started as a climbing community initiative has grown into a gateway event for environmental stewardship in Tuolumne County. Visit Tuolumne County President Lisa Mayo says the annual cleanup has become an established tradition that extends park conservation values into the surrounding communities.

The event now includes fun incentives like a 1 p.m. raffle for participants. Guests staying at First Light Resorts properties can even trade their collected trash for spa treatments at Rush Creek Lodge and Spa through a special program.

Old Priest Grade will close to traffic from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday to make the cleanup safer and more effective. Multiple county and forest service departments are coordinating to support the volunteer effort.

One morning of work transforms an entire community's outdoor spaces for everyone to enjoy.