By Glenn Rolfe

GEORGETOWN — A communitywide cleanup Saturday will go well beyond trash talk.
Besides the freshening-up throughout Georgetown, the eight-hour event will be littered with food, fun, entertainment and mobile COVID-19 vaccinations.

The Day for Spring Cleaning and Family Celebration is presented by Georgetown DE CommUNITY — a coalition of people, organizations and neighborhoods “dedicated to sponsoring projects that help us find common ground, discover what we all collectively value and illuminate what makes Georgetown … a special place.”

Embedded will be a theme of togetherness and a mission to unify the town’s Black, White and Hispanic communities.

“It’s really an outgrowth of the rising awareness and backlash, that we have three different communities, and there is always an effort to pit one against the other. And we’re trying to change all of that,” said Judson Malone, coordinator of the event.

The historic fire station at 201 Depot St. will be the hub for mobile vaccinations and entertainment.

Free COVID-19 vaccines — provided by Beebe Healthcare via Sussex County’s converted bookmobile — will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Family-friendly food, games and music will take place noon to 4 p.m. Treats will include tacos and ice cream, as well as barbecued chicken prepared by the Richard Allen Coalition, Mr. Malone said.

For the youngest visitors, the Historic Georgetown Association’s famous Lil’ Toot train will offer rides.

Invitations have been extended to numerous local, county, state and federal officials.

Maxima, a Spanish radio station, is scheduled to have live broadcasts. In advance, the radio is offering public service announcements to reach the Hispanic community.

This event features the support of Sussex Habitat for Humanity, the First State Community Action Agency, La Esperanza, the Georgetown Boys & Girls Club and local Boy Scouts, Mr. Malone said.

“We’re trying to organize pushback, but at the same time, we’re trying to break down barriers. That is what this cleanup event is about,” said Mr. Malone, whose wife, Christina Diaz-Malone, was unopposed in securing a seat on Georgetown’s Town Council this spring.

Townwide cleanup

The cleanup portion of Saturday’s festivities, featuring several dozen volunteers, will run 8 a.m. to noon.

Roll-off dumpsters will be in each part of town to receive bulk items. Volunteers will help residents move items to the dumpsters if needed.

Dumpster locations will be:

• Grace United Methodist Church, 7 S. King St.
• First State Community Action Agency, 308 N. King St.
• Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service, 406 N. Front St.
• Georgetown Middle School, 301 W. Market St.

Bulky items permitted are household waste, appliances, furniture, wood scraps, cardboard, rugs/carpeting, mattresses and fencing items.

Not permitted are hazardous waste/liquids, electronics, chemicals, air-conditioning units, concrete/cement, tires, paints/lacquers and medical waste.

Teams will be assigned to designated areas of the town. Trash bags, gloves and T-shirts will be provided.

Small items can be bagged (less than 50 pounds) and put on the curb for pickup. Volunteers will be walking the Georgetown neighborhoods to collect litter.

“This is a big, coordinated cleanup effort,” Mr. Malone said. “It is to be the start of something.”