Students at Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation high schools will be pitching in to help clean up the city when a competition designed for them kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 13, announced Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and EVSC Superintendent David Smith today.

“Operation Hot Mess,” as it was dubbed by students and the Clean Evansville team, is a competition between EVSC high schools to see how many individuals they can encourage to come out on Oct. 13 to pick up trash on the West Side around Cedar Hall Community School on Fulton Avenue, Helfrich Park STEM Academy on West Maryland Street, and along Mt. Auburn Road and Buchannan Road. The event will end in the parking lot at 14News WFIE on Mt. Auburn Road.

Mayor Winnecke said the competition is an outgrowth of the city’s Clean Evansville initiative that organizes individuals on the first Saturday of every month to help make our community more attractive by cleaning up neighborhoods and roadways. He pointed out the Clean Evansville initiative is really a community pride and awareness project.

“It’s not only about helping out on the first Saturday of the month, or for special events like this one – although that is great,” Mayor Winnecke said. “It’s really about recognizing the litter blowing down the street and taking the time, any time you see it, to stop and pick it up.”

The Mayor invited the entire community to come out on Saturday, Oct. 13, pick a school to support, and help make our city litter free.

EVSC Superintendent David Smith said Operation Hot Mess allows the community to see an example of how our students are leaders in our communities, too. “Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t expect enough of them. We appreciate the Mayor originating this idea and giving our students the opportunity to step up and show everyone that kids can come together to make a positive difference for their city.”

The winning school will be determined through the percentage of participation based on the enrollment at each school. Families and neighbors of students are encouraged to help out as well. Schools participating include: Academy for Innovative Studies, Bosse High School, Central High School, Harrison High School, New Tech Institute, North High School, and Reitz High School.

The winning school will receive a party sponsored by 14News WFIE and Heritage Federal Credit Union.

The anti-litter campaign is coordinated by the City of Evansville, Keep Evansville Beautiful and volunteer members of the Clean Evansville Committee. Allied Waste provides trash collection services and Rural King donates supplies. Accuride, Vectren and Fifth Third Bank have committed employees to participate in the monthly clean-ups. Volunteers from other companies and organizations interested in participating should call Keep Evansville Beautiful at 425-4461.

More From WGBFAM