Cleanup campaign organizers looking for more volunteers.

Byline: J.P. Ellery

SPENCER - It will be a dream come true for Hazel A. Ahlquist and Claire B. Harding of First Congregational Church if hundreds of people turn out Saturday for the annual Spencer Pride Day to spruce up the town.

The church each year organizes the campaign to clean up roadside debris, but Ms. Ahlquist, chairman of the church committee directing the effort, said the 50 or so people who volunteer tend to be the same ones each year.

"This year we've been going to every business on Main Street with posters to try and get as much publicity as possible," she said.

She said if lots more people would take pride in their town, so much more could be done. A larger area of town could be covered.

She said this is a great way to show community spirit and accomplish a lot in a short period of time, working with your neighbors.

Spencer Pride Day was started in 1980 by a teacher at David Prouty High School, according to Ms. Harding, church secretary.

"When he stopped, I guess someone suggested that we take it over," she said. She said the church did that in 2003.

Volunteers are asked to come to the church at 9 a.m. Saturday and sign up.

The actual cleanup is from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Then there will be a hot dog lunch for everyone.

"We have a map and they just pick an area," Ms. Ahlquist said. "There are parks and streets that they take, or whatever area in town they want to. If they want to take their own street, they can do it."

The Spencer Highway Department helps

by providing bags to collect the debris and a truck to pick up the bagged refuse.

Each participant is given a lime green T-shirt to wear.

"We get them for nothing," Ms. Ahlquist said. "They're donated by a friend of the church, and we have a load of them this year." The donor does not want to be identified.

People who want to get involved can call Ms. Ahlquist for more information at [phone] or [phone].

Spencer Pride Day

When: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. April 18

Where: Sign up at 9 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, 207 Main St., Spencer

For more: Call [phone] or [phone]

What else: Free hotdogs for participants

ART: PHOTO

PHOTOG: T&G File Photo

CUTLINE: First Congregational Church is hoping hundreds of people turn out Saturday for the annual Spencer Pride Day to spruce up the town.