Real people. Real experiences. Real impact.
Volunteer Stories
August 1, 2026 • By Tricia Tomlinson
I expected cleaner streets. I didn’t expect a better workout, or to discover that once a street is cleaned, it often stays clean. Picking up litter has taught me that small acts can have a much longer impact than we realize.
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September 18, 2026 • By Pick It Up Seattle
Driving through Seattle’s University District today, I passed several alleys that looked much like the one in this photograph: overflowing dumpsters, loose garbage scattered across the pavement, graffiti, and litter collecting along the edges. And it made me wonder: What causes this? Is it simply that the dumpsters are too small or aren’t emptied often enough?
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August 20, 2026 • By Tricia Tomlinson
There are many ways to care for Seattle. This video from We Heart Seattle is a powerful reminder that different kinds of litter can require different approaches — but every effort to leave our city better matters.
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August 19, 2026 • By Tricia Tomlinson
David Sedaris talks about walking for miles and picking up garbage along the way. His simple example echoes the idea behind Pick It Up Seattle: see a piece, pick it up.
Read Story →Discover the people, partnerships, and moments shaping cleaner communities.
Experiences and lessons learned while helping clean our community.
Families making cleanup part of spending time together.
Companies serving their communities through volunteerism and support.
Schools, nonprofits, churches, neighborhood groups, civic organizations, and sponsors working together.
Celebrating individuals whose kindness inspires others.
Memorable events, creative ideas, and community gatherings.
Beautiful places volunteers discovered while making their communities cleaner.
Small moments that remind us why community matters.