Operation Our Town needs help on May 12
Operation Our Town is signing up individuals and groups through Friday to help with its annual Crime Clean-Up Day.
Those interested should contact the organization at 296-8730 or send an email to lsfiore.com.
The Clean-Up Day is scheduled May 12, and those who sign up will meet at 8:30 a.m. at Highland Park, 4719 Fifth Ave., Altoona. A rain date is scheduled May 19.
From Highland Park, organizers will provide clean-up materials to participants and assign them to city parks, playgrounds and other locations where they will take steps to remove graffiti.
In a brochure created by Todd Negola of the Pa. Gang Investigators Association, graffiti is referred to as a social plague that is a symptom of larger problems.
"When part of a comprehensive community prevention plan, dealing with graffiti is a simple yet effective mechanism of combating gangs and drugs," he states on the brochure which encourages joint efforts like Operation Our Town's Crime Clean-Up Day.
Operation Our Town is a joint effort of local businesses and community organizations to fight drug use and crime through law enforcement, treatment and prevention techniques.
