Spring is in the air and clean-up projects are underway.

On April 24 at 9 a.m., Friends of the Blue River is asking for volunteers to help with Spring Cleanup Day.

This initiative started in the fall of 2020 with a grant application request written by Lauren (Rush) Ruble.

Shelby County’s 2008 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipient took on the grant-writing process as part of Lilly Scholar Network’s Lead Forward grant opportunity.

“I had never written a grant before. I wanted to try it but couldn’t think of a project, so I actually went to BRCF (Blue River Community Foundation) and asked if they had any ideas,” said Ruble, a Southwestern High School graduate and fifth grade teacher at Triton Central Middle School in Fairland, Indiana. “Julie Jones told me about Friends of the Blue River and it seemed like a great fit for the grant application description.”

Ruble’s grant application was approved for $2,487 which was delivered to Patrick Addis to spearhead the project. The funds will be used to purchase needed equipment and supplies for volunteer cleanup days like the next one on April 24.

Volunteers are asked to meet at the N. Harrison St. trailhead. Water and lunch will be provided. Volunteers will receive T-shirts.

The goal is to keep the Blue River Trail free of trash and invasive species.

“Being a BRCF Alumni Scholar allows me the opportunity to find ways to give back to the community that gave me a college education,” said Ruble. “I am so blessed to have received my scholarship, and I will continually work hard to try and thank the community that helped me.”

For more information, send a text message to 317-512-9164 or email to addispz@rose-hulman.edu.