Boerne held its 23rd annual Trash Off Saturday, an event run in conjunction with Keeping Boerne Beautiful. The one-day event brings volunteers of all backgrounds together to collect trash and other debris that can accumulate in creeks and other outdoor green spaces.
This year the event began at 8 a.m. Saturday at Menger Creek and Champion High School and lasted until noon.
Hosted by the Boerne Parks and Recreation Department, the event at Champion brought out Boerne ISD teachers, bus drivers, parents and students.
“I’ve worked for the city for six years; this is my first time coming out,” said Shelly Leonard, a city of Boerne employee. “Anytime they have a volunteer opportunity, I try and sign up.”
Her spouse, Daniel Leonard, works as a Boerne ISD bus driver and attended the event with her.
“It’s an opportunity to spend time with each other and get some trash picked up,” Daniel Leonard said.
“I also signed up my daughter, but she’s 13 and slept in,” Shelly said, “so it’s just the two of us today.”
Parks and Recreation supervisor Rudy Vega was also onsite at Champion.
“We host one clean up event a year, selecting the locations based on areas that need extra attention,” Vega said. “We estimated that approximately 900 pounds of trash was collected in total from Champion and along (Highway) 46 to Champion Boulevard and Menger Creek, all the way behind (Raising) Cains.”
Park and Rec’s next Trash Off day will be in April 2026, likely sticking with the first Saturday, “but we consider other events when choosing the date,” Vega said. “We should have the date confirmed by early June.”
This event serves multiple purposes for both the community and volunteers. It raises awareness about the importance of waste management and its role in maintaining clean ecosystems. Additionally, it fosters a sense of pride; volunteers contribute directly to enhancing the beauty of Boerne, creating a shared sense of community accomplishment.
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