Volunteers assemble at City Park for POP’s Clean Up Day in Portola. Photo: Ryan Bonk (City Manager, Portola)
PORTOLA, CA — On Saturday, September 19, twenty-seven local volunteers, including members of the grassroots community group Pride of Portola (POP), gathered at Portola City Park to turn community care into visible action for the second annual fall Pride of Portola Community Cleanup Day. Working in close coordination with the City of Portola, residents mobilized across town to collect and haul away an estimated 15 cubic yards of roadside and neighborhood debris.
The morning kicked off at 8:00 AM under crisp autumn skies, where City Manager Ryan Bonk and Public Engagement Officer Brian Attama welcomed participants with morning donuts and an orientation. Volunteers were outfitted with reflective safety vests, grabbers, work gloves, and heavy-duty collection bags before dividing into teams and heading to cleanup areas throughout the city. Each crew took charge of a designated sector, targeting major corridors from the railroad tracks downtown to residential hillside routes on both the north and south ends of the city.
Among the areas addressed was "the gully," an area known for persistent wildlife scatter.
"It was very satisfying to participate in cleaning up our community," said volunteer Rachael Brubaker. "Our targeted area is known to be a haven for bears to drag neighborhood garbage and leave quite a mess. Hopefully our visibility will have an impact on the neighborhood, and people will be more conscientious of taking care of their garbage."
Brubaker also highlighted the wider regional participation: "One of the workers on my team was from South Lake Tahoe. He works for Liberty Energy, who encouraged their employees to participate in the cleanup and offered an incentive of a day off for their participation. What a great idea!"
Local businesses and civic organizations rallied to make the day a resounding success. Intermountain Disposal (IMD) donated a 10-yard commercial dumpster to handle collection and proper disposal. To add an element of friendly exploration, organizers hid "Clean Green Tickets" throughout the cleanup routes, redeemable for prizes generously donated by eleven local merchants: 7-Eleven, Ace Hardware, Blue Door Café, Intermountain Disposal Inc., Lena's Restaurant, Leonard's Market, Mountain Pizza, Nails by Joni, NAPA Auto Parts, Pet Eden, and Portola Village Pharmacy.
Following the cleanup efforts, participants reconvened at City Park for a barbecue lunch provided by the Rotary Club of Portola, celebrating a hard morning's work with hamburgers, hot dogs, and community fellowship.
Pride of Portola (POP) is a grassroots community group operating under the motto "Many Hands, One Community" or more affectionately as "The Litter Committee That Could!" POP was formed following the inaugural Fall Cleanup event in 2025, bringing motivated community members together around a shared commitment to keeping Portola clean and welcoming. Meeting monthly, the group collaborates directly with municipal leaders to organize cleanups, address persistent waste and illegal dumping issues, explore sustainable civic beautification initiatives, and participate in general civic improvement.
Residents interested in joining upcoming cleanups, getting involved in beautification projects, or reporting persistent litter concerns are encouraged to contact the group directly at[email protected].
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PORTOLA, CA — On Saturday, September 19, twenty-seven local volunteers, including members of the grassroots community group Pride of Portola (POP), gathered at Portola City Park to turn community care into visible action for the second annual fall Pride of Portola Community Cleanup Day. Working in close coordination with the City of Portola, residents mobilized across town to collect and haul away an estimated 15 cubic yards of roadside and neighborhood debris.
The morning kicked off at 8:00 AM under crisp autumn skies, where City Manager Ryan Bonk and Public Engagement Officer Brian Attama welcomed participants with morning donuts and an orientation. Volunteers were outfitted with reflective safety vests, grabbers, work gloves, and heavy-duty collection bags before dividing into teams and heading to cleanup areas throughout the city. Each crew took charge of a designated sector, targeting major corridors from the railroad tracks downtown to residential hillside routes on both the north and south ends of the city.
Among the areas addressed was "the gully," an area known for persistent wildlife scatter.
"It was very satisfying to participate in cleaning up our community," said volunteer Rachael Brubaker. "Our targeted area is known to be a haven for bears to drag neighborhood garbage and leave quite a mess. Hopefully our visibility will have an impact on the neighborhood, and people will be more conscientious of taking care of their garbage."
Brubaker also highlighted the wider regional participation: "One of the workers on my team was from South Lake Tahoe. He works for Liberty Energy, who encouraged their employees to participate in the cleanup and offered an incentive of a day off for their participation. What a great idea!"
Local businesses and civic organizations rallied to make the day a resounding success. Intermountain Disposal (IMD) donated a 10-yard commercial dumpster to handle collection and proper disposal. To add an element of friendly exploration, organizers hid "Clean Green Tickets" throughout the cleanup routes, redeemable for prizes generously donated by eleven local merchants: 7-Eleven, Ace Hardware, Blue Door Café, Intermountain Disposal Inc., Lena's Restaurant, Leonard's Market, Mountain Pizza, Nails by Joni, NAPA Auto Parts, Pet Eden, and Portola Village Pharmacy.
Following the cleanup efforts, participants reconvened at City Park for a barbecue lunch provided by the Rotary Club of Portola, celebrating a hard morning's work with hamburgers, hot dogs, and community fellowship.
Pride of Portola (POP) is a grassroots community group operating under the motto "Many Hands, One Community" or more affectionately as "The Litter Committee That Could!" POP was formed following the inaugural Fall Cleanup event in 2025, bringing motivated community members together around a shared commitment to keeping Portola clean and welcoming. Meeting monthly, the group collaborates directly with municipal leaders to organize cleanups, address persistent waste and illegal dumping issues, explore sustainable civic beautification initiatives, and participate in general civic improvement.
Residents interested in joining upcoming cleanups, getting involved in beautification projects, or reporting persistent litter concerns are encouraged to contact the group directly at[email protected].
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