200 students, residents gather at Bonnet Shores, Eastward Look, participate in annual cleanup

04/25/06 - In celebration of Earth Day, the annual Narragansett-URI Spring Cleanup took place Saturday morning in the Bonnet Shores, Eastward Look and Point Judith areas of Narragansett. Margie Manning, also known as "Earth Lady" in the Bonnet Shores community, has been the event coordinator of the cleanup for the past eight years.

She said more than 200 University of Rhode Island students and Narragansett residents arrived at the Bonnet Shores Community Center to volunteer.


Students and residents walked along the streets of Bonnet Shores, Eastward Look and Point Judith picking up various types of litter and tree branches.


Volunteers signed in at 10 a.m. and were assigned streets and areas throughout Narragansett. They received trash bags and gloves before setting out.

Manning said the community received a grant from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, which sponsored the event and was able to pay for a dumpster.


By noon, the dumpster was filled to the brim with an assortment of litter and tree branches.

Residents and students worked together to place an old piece of a dock into the dumpster.

Manning said that because the URI students live in the area it was a great way for them and residents to give back to the community and come together.

"Students came by the busload," said Manning. "They were all very polite."

Students cleaned up the neighborhoods alongside the Narragansett residents from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.


"There was a great turnout of URI students," said Bonnet Shores resident Karen Jedson.

Many URI fraternities and sororities came out to help.


"Our sorority informed us that there was going to be a cleanup, so we volunteered," said Katie Dickinson, a sister of Chi Omega.


"It was a really good turn out ... there was a lot of people," said Sarah McCormick, also a sister of Chi Omega.


"I felt like I was a lot of help to the environment. It makes you not want to litter," said Delta Zeta sister Michelle Laurita.

Volunteers were able to retreat back to the community center to get refreshments.

Manning said several local businesses donated goods for the volunteers.


Roch's Market donated bananas, Brickley's donated coupons for free ice cream cones, Dunkin Donuts donated coffee and Tony's Pizza donated 60 pizzas for the volunteers to feast on after their cleanup efforts.


The cleanup was paired with a memorial walk for the three URI students who went missing last month.

"It [was] a good opportunity to pay our respects," said Manning.


Known for their community service, brothers of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity also came out to help with the clean up.


"It made us all feel real good. We're going to be living here next year, and we liked to give back," said Max Holloway, a ZBT brother.

Students and residents picked up bottles, soda cans, plastic bags and other types of litter.


"One of our brothers found a teapot . it was messy," said ZBT president Nick Lurvey.


"I was climbing through the rocks . I picked up a lot of litter," Laurita said.

Students and residents commented on the politeness of both groups.

"People thanked us and asked if we needed more bags," Holloway said.


"The kids are great. I have never met a rude URI kid yet . they are all very polite," said Walter Manning, Margie's husband.