Volunteers take on the trash in arroyo boat cleanup

RIO HONDO — Volunteers were up early in the morning Saturday as they layered on the sunblock and readied themselves to battle the trash for the Arroyo Colorado Boat Clean Up.
Lawn furniture, old tires and junked televisions were among the piles of garbage found in the Arroyo Colorado as volunteers took boats up and down the arroyo between the Port of Harlingen and Circle X in an effort to clean up the area.
Starting in Rio Hondo, this year the cleanup collected more than 20 40-pound bags of trash. Organizers of the event said it helps educate and build partnerships.
The event was sponsored by Valley Proud Environmental Council and Valley Sportsmen Club and started early in the morning. More than 40 helpers boarded five boats to hunt for trash.
Georgina Matz, chairwoman of Valley Proud, said it was unfortunate to be finding trash along the arroyo, but added that it has been left to the community to clean up after the persons who choose to dump and liter in the area.
Matz said the goal is to eventually educate the entire community and put a stop to the dumping.
She added that word of mouth would be crucial in the process.
“The people helping out today will go back and tell their families about the littering and dumping, and from there, it just spreads outward.”
Matz, however, was stern about penalizing those committing the dumping.
She added that it was up to the judicial system to enforce the law and to hand out hefty fines for those in violation.
Chuck Fultz, of Valley Sportsmen Club, said not everyone is up to taking care of their surroundings.
“You’re heart’s gotta be in it,” he said.
Fultz added that through the years he has offered free food and drinks to the volunteers in an effort to entice persons to attend the cleanup. He said he even offered shrimp one time.
At the end of the cleanup, many of the volunteers gathered at a picnic table to have some barbecue for lunch.
Diana Bustamante, a member of the Rio Grand Valley Jaycees, a community organization made up of young adults, said the cleanup was a great thing for future leaders of the community.