Introduction In September 2022, the South of South Neighborhood Association (SOSNA) partnered with Glitter to clean high-priority trouble spots identified by local residents.
Background SOSNA, responding to neighbor requests, sought Glitter's expertise to clean 10 blocks and promote their Philly Living Project. Their board members, some of whom are Glitter customers, supported the initiative even after relocating.
Project Implementation
Activities Conducted: Glitter cleaned 10 blocks identified as high-priority trouble spots.
Community Engagement: Participation in several community meetings to understand needs and concerns. Eight neighbors were incentivized to sign up for ongoing cleanings.
Role of Cleaners: Regular cleanings of the block housing SOSNA's office, which continued even after the office moved, thanks to neighbor contributions.
Outcomes and Impact
Achievements: Cleaned 10 critical blocks, sustained community involvement, and initiated cleanings on the south side of South Street from Broad to Schuylkill (13 blocks), starting July 14th, every other week.
Incentives: Financial incentives encouraged neighbors to contribute and maintain cleanliness.
Future Plans: Engage the business community for broader support and more frequent cleanings.
Conclusion The partnership with SOSNA highlighted the effectiveness of community-driven efforts and financial incentives in maintaining cleaner neighborhoods. The ongoing support from local residents and businesses ensures the project's sustainability.
Call to Action Interested in fostering a cleaner, healthier community? Partner with Glitter to leverage community involvement and financial incentives for sustained impact. Get in touch to explore collaboration opportunities.
HOW IT WORKS
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Make a pledge
Pay what you can by making a pledge that fits your budget.
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Share and save
Costs are shared by everyone who signs up on your block.
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Spread the word
We provide tools and materials to help get neighbors on board.
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Weekly Cleanups
Cleaning starts once per month. Raise funds for weekly service.
Learn more
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Glitter is an affordable service that keeps litter and trash off your streets, sidewalks, and storm drains. Our pay-what-you-can model brings neighbors together to fund weekly cleaning.
We pay a living wage and are and prioritize hiring those in the community with barriers to work. We’re based in Philadelphia and committed to supporting cleaner and safer neighborhoods across the city.
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North10 works to improve life outcomes for community members of the North Philadelphia Hunting Park-East Tioga community. They deliver programs and services in response to community preferences.
The community regularly cites neighborhood litter and trash as a top concern. Therefore, they’re stepping up to provide one-time cleanups during Winter 2024 and encouraging neighbors to come together to support ongoing funding of a Glitter cleaning subscription on their block.
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Our main focus is removing litter and trash from the sidewalks, street, and storm drains. When time allows, we’ll sweep also up leaves and pull weeds.
We report bulk items like tires, appliances, and construction debris to the city for removal.
We’ll clean up anything that is safe to handle, including discarded needles and bagged pet waste. We cannot handle other hazardous materials, such as unbagged feces or dead animals.
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A block is one city street between two major intersections and includes both sides of the street. The average block in Philadelphia is 450 ft and has 60 households!
If your block is anything but “average,” we’ll work with you to determine an equivalent cleanup area. We can also group multiple blocks together into a group subscription.
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A weekly block cleaning subscription is $200 per month and can be split by any number of neighbors. Cleanups begin once per month when at least $50 is pledged.
North10 is matching up to $50 per block for the first month. This will help blocks get funded more quickly and affordably.
When signing-up, each neighbor makes a pledge that works for their budget. We pool all pledges to fund block cleanings. Neighbors pay Glitter directly once cleaning begins.
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We celebrate a diverse team of cleaners who share our passion and commitment for cleaner, safer, and more optimistic neighborhoods. Cleaners include students funding their education, parents requiring flexible work, and individuals seeking a second chance following reentry.
We prioritize hiring from underemployed populations and are proud to offer paid training, free branded gear and supplies, a $20 per hour starting wage and company profit-sharing.
Whenever possible, we hire cleaners who live nearby and assign them the same blocks each week so that cleaners and neighbors get to know and rely on each other. Our goal is to care for blocks as if we lived there—and sometimes we do!
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Every block gets a fundraising page where neighbors make their pledge. We show the block’s current pledges, cleanup frequency, and photo from prior cleanups. Neighbors have the option to display their names or remain anonymous.
To help spread the word, outreach materials are available by request and shipped directly to you. Available materials include door hangers, letters, and yard/railing signs. They are customized for each block with QR codes.
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By default, cleanings are scheduled the day before trash day and bagged litter and trash is placed curbside for city collection the next day.
Cleaning can also be scheduled after trash day. We require at least one neighbor to volunteer to hold the collected bag(s) to put out for curbside collection the next week. Volunteers often hold bags in an outdoor trash can, alley, or backyard.
Cleanup schedules adjust automatically to align with city-observed holidays.
Cleanups begin once they are funded and as soon as a Glitter cleaner is available. Most cleanups start within 1-2 weeks of funding.
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There is no long-term commitment with Glitter. All contributions are month-to-month and you can cancel anytime by emailing hello@shareglitter.com.
As long as we have enough pledges from other neighbors to fund at least one cleanup per month, the subscription remains active.
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You can reach Glitter by email at hello@shareglitter.com or by phone at 215-995-0210.
You can reach North10 by email at info@north10phl.org or by phone at 267-908-9000 ext 241.