Time to start cleaning up
http://www.reviewindependent.com/articles/604/1/Time-to-start-cleaning-up/Page1.html
Richard Burger
By Richard Burger
Published on 09/9/2008
Pictured: Kara Lowe, Hope of the Nations congregation member, shows the T-shirt design she created. Shirts will be available at cost to those wishing to purchase them. Staff photo
Pictured: Kara Lowe, Hope of the Nations congregation member, shows the T-shirt design she created. Shirts will be available at cost to those wishing to purchase them. Staff photo
‘Loving Thy Neighbors’ Toppenish Ecumenical group plans to paint out graffiti
TOPPENISH — Toppenish religious leaders have decided to make graffiti eradication in the city a labor of love.
Representatives of the “Loving Thy Neighbor Ministries” met with city officials and school district superintendent Steve Myers Aug. 28, to discuss plans for a coordinated, concerted effort to remove graffiti in their neighborhoods.
Group spokesman Frank East, pastor of the Hope of the Nations Foursquare Church, said each of the churches involved have made a four-month commitment, with volunteers from each congregation canvassing the neighborhood twice each month, through the end of the year.
“It’s a concentrated effort in loving our neighbors and our neighborhoods,” said East. “It’s our privilege and responsibility to serve our city.”
East stressed that the effort was “not a movement against” the people who paint the graffiti, and said that he hoped for “a breakthrough in the hearts of those young people,” through the ministry.
Maps have been prepared that divide the residential areas in the community into sections of responsibility and all of the churches in each section will work together to keep graffiti painted out, East said.
Plans call for the four-month ministries to begin Sept. 20, with a combined morning service of worship and prayer, East said.
During the meeting, Hope of the Nations congregation member Kara Lowe showed a T-shirt design she created, which East said would be available to ministry participants for the cost of the shirt.
She said her church would have a contact person for those interested in purchasing one of the shirts.
Lance Hoyt, director of public works, said the city would be able to provide some disposable rollers and paint brushes, and would have about 400 gallons of paint on hand by the launch of the ministries.
Myers said his district’s schools would also participate in the effort, as well as the Toppenish Rotary and Lion’s Club.
“It’s so good to see people here looking for a solution,” he said.
City Manager Bill Murphy said the city would focus on removing graffiti in the business section of the community.
Hoyt said the amount of spray-paint vandalism in the community roughly doubles every year, and if city crews get behind painting out the tagging in the areas most frequently hit, it begins to spread into other areas.
He said the city uses six 55-gallon drums of paint each year to combat the problem.
Acting Toppenish Police Chief Adam Diaz said that despite the efforts of his officers, only a small portion of the graffiti vandals are arrested.
Part of the reason, he said, is that police don’t always know when the vandalism happens.
“In some neighborhoods, people are very reluctant to report it,” said Diaz.
East said he welcomes any other individuals or organizations to participate in the ministry effort, and encouraged those interested to contact him at his church.
Representatives of the “Loving Thy Neighbor Ministries” met with city officials and school district superintendent Steve Myers Aug. 28, to discuss plans for a coordinated, concerted effort to remove graffiti in their neighborhoods.
Group spokesman Frank East, pastor of the Hope of the Nations Foursquare Church, said each of the churches involved have made a four-month commitment, with volunteers from each congregation canvassing the neighborhood twice each month, through the end of the year.
“It’s a concentrated effort in loving our neighbors and our neighborhoods,” said East. “It’s our privilege and responsibility to serve our city.”
East stressed that the effort was “not a movement against” the people who paint the graffiti, and said that he hoped for “a breakthrough in the hearts of those young people,” through the ministry.
Maps have been prepared that divide the residential areas in the community into sections of responsibility and all of the churches in each section will work together to keep graffiti painted out, East said.
Plans call for the four-month ministries to begin Sept. 20, with a combined morning service of worship and prayer, East said.
During the meeting, Hope of the Nations congregation member Kara Lowe showed a T-shirt design she created, which East said would be available to ministry participants for the cost of the shirt.
She said her church would have a contact person for those interested in purchasing one of the shirts.
Lance Hoyt, director of public works, said the city would be able to provide some disposable rollers and paint brushes, and would have about 400 gallons of paint on hand by the launch of the ministries.
Myers said his district’s schools would also participate in the effort, as well as the Toppenish Rotary and Lion’s Club.
“It’s so good to see people here looking for a solution,” he said.
City Manager Bill Murphy said the city would focus on removing graffiti in the business section of the community.
Hoyt said the amount of spray-paint vandalism in the community roughly doubles every year, and if city crews get behind painting out the tagging in the areas most frequently hit, it begins to spread into other areas.
He said the city uses six 55-gallon drums of paint each year to combat the problem.
Acting Toppenish Police Chief Adam Diaz said that despite the efforts of his officers, only a small portion of the graffiti vandals are arrested.
Part of the reason, he said, is that police don’t always know when the vandalism happens.
“In some neighborhoods, people are very reluctant to report it,” said Diaz.
East said he welcomes any other individuals or organizations to participate in the ministry effort, and encouraged those interested to contact him at his church.