At 8 a.m. near the G Line station in Canoga Park, a group of retirees donned neon yellow vests and gathered to tackle a pressing issue: litter. Armed with trash bags and grabber tools, they surveyed the litter-strewn sidewalks and gutters of Sherman Way.
Group leader Jill Mather, walking and talking with military-like efficiency, outlined the mission ahead: clean up a mile-long stretch of road.
For the next two hours, the volunteers diligently picked up everything from Q-tips and chicken bones to paper plates and soiled napkins. Each piece of trash collected felt like a small victory, as Mather noted, “It makes us feel good. It’s visibly different. It’s instant gratification.”
As the sun climbed higher in the San Fernando Valley sky, the cleanup ended. Alan Aaronson, 71, flexed his fingers, acknowledging the strain of the gripper tool in his hand. Yet, for him and other volunteers, the work was far from over; they planned to return the very next day for more “trashing.”
Volunteers Cleaning Communities, one of Los Angeles’ largest cleanup organizations, consists mostly of retirees in their 60s and 70s. Spanning the west San Fernando Valley six days a week, the group also has branches in the East Valley, Brentwood, and Santa Monica, totaling around 250 members and reaching an additional 3,000 through their newsletter.
Their volunteer work culminates in a social hour at a nearby coffee shop, which fosters camaraderie among participants. While frustration over the littered city drives many volunteers to join, it’s the friendships that keep them coming back. After years of demanding jobs, caretaking, or the loss of a spouse, members find purpose in their work and a remedy for loneliness.
Alan Aaronson, a former sales manager in entertainment, lives in West Hills and participates three to four times a week. He joined the group after losing his wife and cherishes the connection he now has with his fellow volunteers. “I like going to coffee after, I like hanging out with people,” he shared. “I like the whole communal exercise.”
Danny Sinclair, 75, relocated from Tampa to Chatsworth in 2020 to be near his son following his wife’s death. Joining the cleanup group shifted his feelings of isolation. Sinclair volunteers five times a week and takes hikes in the Santa Susana Mountains every Friday afternoon with other members.
image source from：latimes
