My Green Up Day Community Cleanup
Last week, I was proud to stand alongside the Burlington Moose Lodge 1618 and the South Burlington Dolphins Youth Football Foundation on Vermont’s Green Up Day as more than 20 volunteers came together to help clean up the park and give back to our community.
Throughout the day, we worked around the softball field clearing leaves, ferns, sticks, and debris while opening up walking paths and cleaning areas that had been overlooked for months. Our group picked up trash buried deep in the thickest bushes and helped restore parts of the park that families and kids use every day. More than 10 young people from the area showed up to help! Many of them Dolphins players and friends of the program. Seems like the next generation is ready to lead by example and serve their community.
After the hard work was finished, everyone came together to enjoy grilled hot dogs, burgers, chips, and plenty of water! Just good people, community spirit, and a little Vermont grit.
The Moose Lodge serves roughly 750 members and has become a major charitable, social, and community hub in the region. They’ve donated more than 3,000 pounds of food to Feeding Chittenden County to supporting organizations like Vermont Paws & Boots. The Lodge continues to make a huge community impact while bringing people together!
The South Burlington Dolphins is a fully volunteer-run organization I help run that has coached and mentored more than 3,000 young athletes over the years through football, leadership, and teamwork. I’m proud to serve as Vice President of the Foundation and Head Coach of the 5th/6th grade team. The Dolphins have been a huge part of my life as I played in the program myself from 5th through 8th grade, and I’ve now spent the last four years coaching the next generation of athletes.
I believe moments like these help us remember that community organizations matter. They build leaders, create connections, and teach young people that giving back is just as important as competing on the field. Vermont still runs on neighbors helping neighbors and that spirit was alive!
- Javen Sears
