Ava Wozney's C4C fundraiser

Last spring I got the opportunity to volunteer at a flood relief event hosted by Clean 4 Change. It was my first time working with the organization and I didn’t really know what to expect, but when I arrived at the Colson Civic Center in eastern Kentucky and met the other volunteers who were already grinding away at cleaning out rooms that had been severely flood damaged, with 90’s alternative rock blasting from a Bluetooth speaker and smiles on their faces, I knew I came to the right place. 

I spent the day working with the other volunteers as we used pressure washers, shop vacs, mops, and a whole lot of determination to clean out rooms that had not long ago, been filled with almost 5 ft of mud and water. At the end of the day I was dirty and tired but when I looked at the now shiny white and newly cleaned rooms I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and community. 

As someone who cares deeply about climate change and environmental Justice, I know that it can be discouraging and frustrating when it seems like every day a new wildfire is sprouting up, or another environmental regulation got overturned. These big events can make you feel powerless, even hopeless. But in just one day of working with C4C my outlook was restored. I was reminded that nothing worth doing can be accomplished alone, and by being a part of C4C I can help contribute to something larger than myself. 

That day, I decided to officially join the organization, and since I have gotten the chance to help advocate for environmental change, educate others about sustainability, volunteer at park cleanups, and most of all I get to form connections with people who share similar passions for the earth! 

Every dollar that gets donated to this organization goes right back to the communities that surround us. From park cleanups, to sustainability workshops, to invasive species removal, our members do everything they can to make the world a better place. Whether you donate money, tell a friend, or go follow us on Instagram, anyway that you can help really does make a difference. Thank you for listening to my story!