DETROIT – Some residents across Detroit are beefing up efforts to ensure Angels Night and trunk-or-treat events are safe this season.
A large group of volunteers gathered in Downtown Old Redford on an overcast Wednesday (Oct. 25) morning.
They gathered to help clean up and prepare for the community’s upcoming holiday activities at Artists Village.
“We really appreciate our volunteers,” said John George, CEO of Detroit Blight Busters.
Nearly 100 students from the University of Detroit joined in to help the team from Detroit Blight Busters clean up spaces and spruce up parts of downtown.
“We believe that our children, all children, deserve the ability to grow up in a community that’s clean and decent and safe and beautiful,” George said.
Over the next few days, workers and teams of volunteers will be joining neighbors around Downtown Old Redford, putting in a little elbow grease.
They’ll be clearing trash and debris and canvassing the community, ensuring things are safe for events leading up to Angels Night and Halloween.
“You know, back in the 80s, in a three-day period, then known as Devil’s Night, we had over 810 fires,” George said. “That’s just unacceptable.”
While the fires have died down over the years, George said the community-based efforts to keep the environment safe continue.
“We continue in the spirit of not only coming together to patrol and protect Detroit, but it’s also a time to celebrate all of the positive things that are going on,” George said.
Detroit Blight Busters will be hosting its Angels Night dinner at Artists Village in Downtown Old Redford at 5 p.m., Sunday (Oct. 29).
The group said it could still use some volunteers leading up to the event. For more information, call Detroit Blight Busters at 313-255-4355.