The Xcel energy day of service took place last Saturday. This year, around 30 volunteers came out to help clean up along the banks of the Mississippi River. Volunteers met at Ellison Park near the Monticello hospital and were split into different groups and sent to various river access points from Monticello to Clearwater,

Xcel Energy Day of Service

Xcel Energy holds an annual day of service where employees and other volunteers can get together to do good in the community. They don’t always focus on river cleanup — some years the water is too high. When that is the case, they find other ways to help out around the area.

This year, however, conditions were just right and volunteers could safely walk along the river to pick up trash and debris that had collected along the banks. The river was low, which reduced the risk of accidents and also revealed more trash along the banks.

Safety First

Volunteers were equipped with gloves, visibility jackets, hand sanitizer and face masks to ensure everyone’s safety. Volunteers were allowed to remove their masks as the groups spread out and got to work, but everyone was happy to wear them as the group gathered to listen to instructions and safety guidelines.

Volunteers were also asked not to pick up any broken glass, syringes, or other hazardous materials they might encounter, but to let their group leaders take care of it instead.

Before the groups headed out, organizers led a group stretching excercise to make sure everyone was loose and ready for action.

Lunch

Every year, lunch for the Xcel Energy day of service is provided by the Monticello Lions Club. Organizers were eager to get to work, knowing they would have a delicious hot meal of hotdogs and brats provided for them by the time they were done.