April showers bring May flowers…Spring rain is special, and we are grateful for each drop we have received! It washes away dust, freshens the air, and causes flowers, grass, tree leaves and crops to emerge with a green vibrance we can’t help but notice. Spring rain brings a level of clean we all appreciate. As we continue our series on the topic of “Loving our Community,” we focus on the tradition of spring cleaning.
I recall my grandmother’s spring cleaning, which included opening windows and hanging rugs and comforters on the clothes line. It also included organizing the canning cellar and deep freezer so that new products could be added when the garden began producing and chickens were ready to butcher. My mother-in-law cleans her exterior windows and front porch to ensure full enjoyment of her beautiful yard. My husband uses rainy days to purge items from the garage that are broken beyond repair or that are no longer needed.
The City of Concordia offers an opportunity to assist residents with their annual spring cleaning. During citywide cleanup each April, City Streets, Parks and Utilities staff pick up furniture, appliances and tree limbs placed at the curb and dispose of them without charge to residents. Tires are also collected and disposed, although a change to the collection point was made this year and address verification was added to help ensure this free service was provided only to Concordia residents. This service is provided to our residents to help ensure unwanted / unused items do not accumulate, and that our community remains a healthy environment for our residents to live work and play.
My spring cleaning typically includes purging unused items from closets and cabinets and thoroughly cleaning the interiors. This purge also includes removing unused or expired medications from our medicine cabinet. You may have heard other communities offering free disposal of unused medications on a specific “Drug Takeback Day.” Concordia no longer reserves a specific day for this disposal because a MedSafe medication disposal box was added to the lobby of the Concordia Police Department. This disposal option is available to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, making it easier than ever to safely dispose of unused medication, and prevent unintended consumption and injury.
Purging unused items, deep cleaning, and preparing spaces for future use is one way we show love to our families and our neighborhoods. This act of service shows our families they are worthy of a clean and healthy place to live with space to thrive. Our friends and neighbors appreciate their views through clean windows and from their front porches or back decks even more when we make the effort to perform deep cleaning in our yards each spring. Thank you for loving your community by participating in this year’s annual citywide cleanup.
