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Cleanup Columbia is April 11
Join our volunteer family and participate alongside fellow residents in Cleanup Columbia 2026 on Saturday, April 11. More than 550 volunteers from nearly 60 groups are planning to help. There is still time for you to join the effort!
Cleanup Columbia is a citywide litter pick-up that brings our community together to care for shared spaces by cleaning streets, trails, streams, and parks.
Individuals, businesses, families, neighbors, and organizations are all encouraged to take part. Volunteers may also select an alternate date and time that better accommodates their schedule. Participants will be assigned a designated area for litter pickup, while parks and trails will be reserved for families with young children. Bags, gloves, and safety equipment will be provided.
Volunteer Columbia supports this important service year-round by providing materials and assistance to residents who wish to contribute. Last year, members of our volunteer family collected more than 7,000 bags of litter and contributed over 8,000 volunteer hours toward maintaining a clean and welcoming community.
Online registration closes April 9. Walk-in registration is available on April 11, 7:30-10 a.m., at our office at 11 N. Seventh Street.
Register via our form or email volunteer@CoMo.gov to learn more!
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Litter Team Events
Another great way to get involved in litter pickup is by attending one of our Litter Team events. Participating is simple: just show up, and a volunteer leader or staff member will have the supplies and provide direction. You make the magic of litter pick up happen!
Drop-ins are always welcome! Those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Litter Team events are not intended for large groups. Please reach out to us if you have a group, and we will support a litter service specific to your group.
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Saturday, April 11 - 9 -11 a.m. meeting at Downtown Optimist Park, 100 E. Forest Ave.
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Sunday, April 12 - Good Deeds Day - noon - 2 p.m. meeting at Nifong Park, 2900 E. Nifong.
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Saturday, May 2 - 9-11 a.m. meeting at Grace Bible Church, 601 Blue Ridge Road
To get involved, self-schedule, email volunteer@como.gov, or just drop in!
Thanks to Litter Team volunteers, pictured, who collected 660 pounds of litter along Blackfoot Road on March 24.
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Join Missouri River Relief for an Earth Day Flat Branch Cleanup
Wednesday, April 22
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
MKT Trail - Stadium Blvd Access
Registration is required through the MRR registration link here. Capacity is limited, and group registrations are limited to 10 individuals. No drop in volunteers will be able to participate.
Registrants must be on time to participate in the safety briefing and receive their cleanup location assignment.
PLEASE NOTE: This cleanup will require volunteers to wade in the creek- anywhere from ankle to waist-deep. Wear work-appropriate clothing. Long pants are strongly recommended, but shorts may be desired for those wading in the creek
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Attend a home composting workshop!
Learn the why, what, and how of home composting. Compostables make up 34% of the materials sent to landfills.
Composting is easy and rewarding, and it isn’t just for gardeners! Composting is a step everyone can take to reduce their carbon footprint. Attend a free workshop and start diverting kitchen scraps and yard waste while producing a nutrient-rich soil amendment. Composting is nature’s way to recycle. Pictured is Debbie Lacy-Anderson, an experienced composter, teaching a class at the library in 2025.
Attend an upcoming compost workshop, led by an experienced volunteer:
Vermicomposting – A process done with specialized, red wriggler worms. It can be done indoors in closed bins or outdoors in large open bins.
Register to attend a compost workshop
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Missouri Conservation Corps events coming up this month
Help remove invasive honeysuckle! Tools and training will be provided. Come dressed for outdoor work and bring a refillable water bottle.
- Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 8, 4 - 6 p.m. Volunteers should meet on the west side of the park at Odor Shelter, 926 College Park Dr.
- Volunteers skilled in herbicide application are needed! Missouri Conservation Corps will engage a large team of volunteers on Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to noon as part of ForColumbia. MCC will be removing invasive plants in Alspaugh Park, a new 200-acre City of Columbia park, and 2 or 3 skilled volunteers are needed to apply herbicide and help support other volunteers.
Visit missouriconservationcorps.org for more information and to register.
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Arbor Day Tree Give Away - Saturday, April 25
Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, along with the City of Columbia’s TreeKeepers volunteer group, the City’s Tree Board, and the Columbia Farmers Market, is planning the annual Arbor Day tree giveaway.
The giveaway will be Saturday, April 25, starting at 8 a.m. and lasting until seedlings are gone. Trees will be distributed at the MU Health Care Pavilion, home of the Columbia Farmers Market, 1769 Ash St. Two tree seedlings per person will be distributed and there will be 22 species to choose from!
Thank you to our TreeKeeper volunteers for helping prepare the trees for the giveaway and distribute them at the event! Pictured are Volunteers Ann Fieser, Teresa Kight, and Nancy Rezabek working alongside the Parks and Recreation Forestry team in preparing the tree seedlings.
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Opportunities with Columbia Parks & Recreation
🏃🏼 Columbia Youth Intro Track Meet - Saturday, April 25, at Hickman High School. Volunteers are needed to assist with recording and timing, as well as various track and field events, from 9:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
🌎 Earth Day Festival - Sunday, April 26, at Peace Park. Volunteers are needed to assist with sustainable children's activities. There are two volunteer shifts available, 11:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m. and 2:30-5:30 p.m.
👟 Blue Thunder Track Club – For the April-July season, assistant coaches are needed for distance, mid-distance, hurdles, sprints, jumps, pole vault, throws, and race walk for this track club. Volunteers will need to maintain consistent attendance at practices and serve as good role models for the youth. A background check is required for this volunteer position.
⚾ Douglass Youth Baseball League – Coaches and umpires are needed for this non-competitive league for youth ages 5-12, beginning in May. Volunteers will undergo a background check and must be consistent in attendance.
✅ Parks and Recreation is looking for adults to teach a variety of classes at the Armory, 701 E. Ash, including art, cheer, dance, jump rope, knitting and crochet, and other activities and hobbies. If you have a skill to share, we would love to talk with you! Contact Mary Dewey at Mary.Dewey@como.gov to get involved.
✅ Share your time with Special Olympics! To get involved, email Tyler Armstrong at Tyler.Armstrong@como.gov. We prefer that volunteers commit to helping throughout the season; skill in the sport is desired but not required. Volunteers should be positive and supportive of the athlete.
To volunteer, email volunteer@CoMo.gov or self-schedule.
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Join our Household Hazardous Waste Collection Team!
Columbia's Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collections start in April and continue the first and third Saturdays through October. This is a fun and popular assignment to do with family and friends.
HHW is held at the Grissum Building, 1313 Lakeview. Volunteers assist with paint consolidation working in two-hour shifts: 8:15-10 a.m. or 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Coming dates, April 4 & 18, May 2 & 16.
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Remembering Valerie Owen
This week, we learned of the passing of longtime volunteer Valerie Owen. From 2018 to 2025, Valerie dedicated herself to caring for the roundabout at Clark Lane and Ballenger Road. A professional gardener, her talent was evident not only at her home but also in the beauty and care she brought to the community space she tended. Her commitment and pride in her work will leave a lasting impact on our Adopt-A-Spot community.
The City of Columbia has more than 100 individual and group volunteers who care for Adopt-A-Spots in city or state street right of way. Their hard work is appreciated by thousands of residents and visitors who pass by each day. We appreciate you!
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Youth In Action - coming soon!
Tailored for 12-15-year-olds, Youth in Action helps youth begin building a resume and get involved in their community. This summer, we will host volunteer events with the City and community agencies. Supervision is provided by Volunteer Programs staff; we ask that volunteers come ready to serve! Previous opportunities include working with The Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House, Show Me State Games, Lunch in the Park, and more!
Look for the summer schedule to hit our website in the coming weeks. To learn more, email volunteer@como.gov.
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