Clarksburg - Operation Clean Sweep On June 2, 2007, H.I.S. BridgeBuilders Operation Clean Sweep event was held in the Monticello area of Clarksburg, West Virginia. 40 volunteers throughout the Clarksburg area came to help clean up, comprised of 15 Churches/10 Denominations. 25 of the local residents of all ages got involved in the cleanup as well. The EPA provided 200 garbage bags, work gloves, litter grabbers, T-shirts, and a 16 foot trailer to fill with trash & debris (because we partnered with them in conjunction with the Monongahela River Clean Sweep effort). Martin Shaffer, a local businessman, arranged for local businesses to donate a 40 foot coal truck as well as heavy equipment including an excavator and a backhoe loader. William Viglianco, owner of North Pole Ice (located on Monticello Ave) provided us with 40 bags of ice. The City of Clarksburg helped us with caution signage and the pick-up/disposal of trash. We cleaned up the Elk Creek River bank as well as a four-block radius of the Monticello neighborhood. We filled up the 16 foot trailer AND the 40 foot coal truck with trash and debris! Many volunteers showed up with weed eaters and lawn mowers. Waist high grass and weeds with an inch-thick stalk and some weeds as high as trees were cut down. The residents were so excited! Widows and long-time residents roamed around the neighborhood remembering and seeing how the neighborhood "used to be". Children were excited to get a T-shirt and helped us pick up litter. Youth and some that were not so young were anxious to do anything they could to be a part of this effort. The beauty was how we all worked together -- volunteers and residents. There were smiles everywhere. God's favor, mercy and blessing was on this place. The women of the community along with volunteers prepared hot dogs and chips for everyone! Over 150 hot dogs were served! The Stealey Assembly of God Youth Praise Band played while we ate lunch. Everyone was together -- young and old, various cultures and denominations -- all working together to bring hope and beauty to this place. The hope we have is in the saving gospel of Jesus Christ and though our example, late in the day, a woman who lives in the neighborhood asked how she could ask Jesus into her heart. God was definitely glorified. Alberta's house before.   Alberta's house during.   Alberta's house after.