Elyria residents turn out to volunteer to help clean up their city

ELYRIA, Ohio - Dozens of Elyria residents turned out for a community meeting Tuesday night to volunteer to help clean-up their city.

Volunteers will help rehab dozens of homes and yards on South Maple Street and Gates Avenue Friday. It is part of NewsChannel5's Building Better Neighborhoods initiative. At Tuesday's meeting, they signed up for various jobs such as landscaping, roof repair and painting. 

Greg Taylor, who grew-up in the neighborhood, runs a landscaping business and felt obligated to give back.

"To see what the streets become today is kind of sad compared to what it used to be. So we're trying to do our part and give back a little bit," Taylor said.

Elyria Mayor Holly Brinda said the Building Better Neighborhoods initiative is a great opportunity for the city to work with homeowners.

"It will be nice for them to see us helping them. Many times they only see us when there is a code violation,"  Brinda said.

The volunteer team will be led by NewsChannel5 anchor Chris Flanagan, Troubleshooter Joe Pagonakis and several other NewsChannel5 employees.

Volunteers are welcome to work between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Volunteers will check in at The Boys & Girls Club located at 1821 Middle Ave. in Elyria.

Anyone interested in signing up to volunteer can contact Elyria’s Mayor’s Office of Volunteer Engagement at 440-326-1402.