Volunteers are being sought for the 24th annual Fruit Belt Clean-a-Thon, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 24. The event is sponsored by the UB Center for Urban Studies, PS #37 Futures Academy, the Fruit Belt Coalition and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Anyone interested in participating is asked to contact A.S.M. Abdul Bari, program assistant for the Center for Urban Studies, at 716-220-7455 or asmbari@buffalo.edu by May 20. Volunteers will meet at Futures Academy, 295 Carlton St., Buffalo.

The event typically draws about 100 students, including seventh- and eighth-graders from Futures Academy, and 100 community volunteers each year.

The event is organized around the theme of “Collective Work and Responsibility.” Organizers aim to give students opportunities to learn about civic engagement and how to make their community a better place to live. By participating in the clean-a-thon, students gain valuable experience in community building and understanding the importance of working with others to make their community inviting and exemplary.

The clean-a-thon day has two parts. During the morning hours, participants form cleaning brigades that travel across the Fruit Belt collecting trash and debris. In the afternoon, there’s a celebratory festival with games and activities for the kids and a community picnic for all who took part.

Volunteer check-in will take place between 8:30–9 a.m. on May 24, and a free cookout lunch will be provided following the clean-up. All are welcome to stay afterward for games and activities during the ‘Futures Festival’ from noon to 2 p.m.