Newark —The first day of Spring is just around the corner and United Community Corporation wants to make sure that Newark is ready for spring cleaning. The Community Action Agency of Newark will continue its series of monthly distributions at West Side Park, but March’s will be a little different.

While free groceries will still be in abundance, UCC will also put on an emphasis on cleaning, sanitizing and safety supplies for its Spring Cleaning distribution event, which will be held Saturday, March 27 from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. at the West Side Park Community Center in Newark (600 South 17th Street).

The event was the brainchild of UCC’s Senior Services staff, which is sponsored by Amerigroup RealSolutions, after many senior clients expressed a need for cleaning supplies and families within UCC’s youth development programs echoed that request.

“Seniors and families need to choose between buying food or cleaning supplies during a pandemic,” UCC’s Director of Youth, Family & Senior Services Yucleidis Melendez said. “Families are thinking about both being healthy and safe versus addressing their food insecurity. Choosing between those two things is extremely difficult. We want to be able to fill both needs for them.”

In preparation for the event, UCC is holding a cleaning supplies donation drive that will lead up to the March 27 event. UCC is requesting the following items that will be given to the community during the distribution event: laundry detergent, dish detergent, dryer sheets, multi-purpose cleaner, disinfectant wipes, gloves, face masks and garbage bags. Items can be purchased via UCC’s amazon list to be delivered directly to a UCC Site: https://smile.amazon.com/hz/charitylist/ls/LE0XTG5STN7S.

“It is very important for people to participate in the donation drive because we want to make sure that everyone in attendance at the spring cleaning event will get all the supplies they need,” West Side Park office manager Christian Marsette said. “It is very important to provide cleaning supplies to the community because with COVID-19 around it is important that everyone take the proper precautions and they make sure they are doing the right things to stay clean and healthy.”

The spring cleaning event is being run in partnership with Amerigroup RealSolutions, Hope Bridges Us, Beauty For Ashes, Saydah’s Career Planning Adventure, Covenant House, Tender Loving Totes, Girls Live, Love, Laugh, Inc., Chosen Generation & Ministries and Saint Paul Sounds of Praise. 

“Our partners are definitely what keeps us going,” Melendez said. “Their support, help and contributions allow us to increase the number of people that we can serve and provide for. The strength of our partners is a huge reason for the success our events have had.”

With the help of its partners and the dedication of its staff, UCC’s West Side Park events have already served over 1,400 people in 2021. 

“My staff has a heart of serving,” Melendez said. “Being part of the planning and the day-of-event activities really makes us feel like we are doing something for the community. I’m very proud of the time and effort that we’ve put in as well as the work that we’ve done over the past year to serve our community during this pandemic.”