The 15th annual Clean-a-Thon served as the culmination of the Center for Urban Studies' Community as Classroom program at School 37. The theme for the event was "collective work and responsibility." Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 The 15th annual Clean-a-Thon served as the culmination of the Center for Urban Studies' Community as Classroom program at School 37. The theme for the event was "collective work and responsibility." Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

Sharon Bertucci, a school counselor at City Honors School, takes care of some weeding in the Futures Garden across from School 37. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 Sharon Bertucci, a school counselor at City Honors School, takes care of some weeding in the Futures Garden across from School 37. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

Gardening tools were supplied by Erie County, Great American CleanUp, Grassroot Gardens of Buffalo and the University Heights Tool Library. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 Gardening tools were supplied by Erie County, Great American CleanUp, Grassroot Gardens of Buffalo and the University Heights Tool Library. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

Nate Aldrich, a student in the master of urban planning program and a graduate assistant for the Center for Urban Studies, chooses a tool. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 Nate Aldrich, a student in the master of urban planning program and a graduate assistant for the Center for Urban Studies, chooses a tool. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

Sarah Brodski, a student in the Graduate School of Education, and Jordan Baynard, age 15, are ready to work. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 Sarah Brodski, a student in the Graduate School of Education, and Jordan Baynard, age 15, are ready to work. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

From left: Davon Alexander (in black shirt), a teacher's aide at School 37, and David Cobb (in striped shirt), a science teacher at School 37, hand out lawn tools. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 From left: Davon Alexander (in black shirt), a teacher's aide at School 37, and David Cobb (in striped shirt), a science teacher at School 37, hand out lawn tools. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

From left: Enthusiastic eighth-graders from School 37 include Enjahnique Whitlock, Tanasia Graham and Semaj Mitchell. At right, in red shirt, is Sevehn Venable, also an eighth-grader. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 From left: Enthusiastic eighth-graders from School 37 include Enjahnique Whitlock, Tanasia Graham and Semaj Mitchell. At right, in red shirt, is Sevehn Venable, also an eighth-grader. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

From left: Eighth-graders Sevehn Venable and Devahn Carson. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 From left: Eighth-graders Sevehn Venable and Devahn Carson. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

Following cleanup duties, participants enjoyed activities including face painting, visits with firemen, chalk drawing, interactive games and a barbecue. Young students could take a turn talking on the public address system aboard the fire truck and holding the fire hose. Ronald Lawson, age 6 and a first-grader, holds the fire hose, joined by Lt. Dennis Bannister of Engine 21. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 Following cleanup duties, participants enjoyed activities including face painting, visits with firemen, chalk drawing, interactive games and a barbecue. Young students could take a turn talking on the public address system aboard the fire truck and holding the fire hose. Ronald Lawson, age 6 and a first-grader, holds the fire hose, joined by Lt. Dennis Bannister of Engine 21. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

Enjoying some sno-kones are first-graders Milan Smith and Anyah Deas. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 Enjoying some sno-kones are first-graders Milan Smith and Anyah Deas. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

Face painting was among the post-cleanup activities. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 Face painting was among the post-cleanup activities. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

Weeding around the Bird Garden at the corner of Carlton and Orange streets are students Jaiyda Ayala (sleeveless, colorful top, braided hair) and Amya Coley (white longsleeve shirt and glasses), both seventh-graders. Matt Macias (black T-shirt) is the girls' urban gardening teacher and an environmental design student at UB. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 Weeding around the Bird Garden at the corner of Carlton and Orange streets are students Jaiyda Ayala (sleeveless, colorful top, braided hair) and Amya Coley (white longsleeve shirt and glasses), both seventh-graders. Matt Macias (black T-shirt) is the girls' urban gardening teacher and an environmental design student at UB. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

Helping out from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus are, from left, Sarah Warner, Susan Kirkpatrick, Dayle Cotter, Lisa Fonseca and Ekua Mends-Aidoo. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 Helping out from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus are, from left, Sarah Warner, Susan Kirkpatrick, Dayle Cotter, Lisa Fonseca and Ekua Mends-Aidoo. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

Matt Enstice and Jonathan McNeice, both from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, tackle some dandelions. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 Matt Enstice and Jonathan McNeice, both from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, tackle some dandelions. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

Eighth-graders Demerius Wright, Mikeya Foster and Elijah Graham lend a hand. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

 Eighth-graders Demerius Wright, Mikeya Foster and Elijah Graham lend a hand. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi
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Fruit Belt Clean-a-thon

Students, teachers, residents and community partners from PS 37, UB, the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and the Fruit Belt neighborhood reclaimed vacant lots, cleaned sidewalks and beautified community gardens at the recent Fruit Belt Clean-a-Thon and Festival. The event was organized by UB's Center for Urban Studies, the UB Office of Community Relations and School 37, the Marva J. Daniel Futures Preparatory School. Photos: Nancy J. Parisi

Published June 2, 2016 This content is archived.