Volunteer registration opens for SOLVE’s annual ‘Pick It Up, Bend!’ riverside cleanup
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Central Oregonians can help protect local waterways this September as SOLVE brings its second annual “Pick It Up, Bend!” community cleanup to town.
Volunteer registration is now officially open for the event, which takes place Sunday, September 27, in the Old Mill District and around the Hayden Homes Amphitheater.
The local effort is part of SOLVE’s 40th annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup, a statewide campaign running September 18–27 aimed at removing trash from streets, parks, and riverbanks before it travels downstream into larger waterways and the Pacific Ocean.
The Bend cleanup brings together local residents, businesses, and community groups to keep the Deschutes River corridor and popular gathering spaces trash-free.
This year’s event also leads directly into SOLVE’s role as an official Village Green partner for the Jack Johnson concert scheduled that evening at Hayden Homes Amphitheater. Organizers note that participating in the volunteer cleanup does not provide free admission or tickets to the concert.
Environmental advocates emphasize that watershed protection starts far inland in high-desert communities like Bend.
“Protecting our waterways starts in the communities where we live, work and play,” said Kris Carico, CEO of SOLVE. “Every piece of litter we prevent from entering a storm drain, creek or river is one less piece that can travel downstream.”
Runoff and wind frequently carry litter from inland city streets into rivers like the Deschutes, which eventually connect to larger river systems and the ocean.
The multi-day regional initiative also coincides with broader conservation efforts, including International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 19, National Public Lands Day on September 26, and World Rivers Day on September 27.
SOLVE invites individuals, families, local businesses, civic groups, and student organizations across Central Oregon to take part.
Volunteers can find full event details, view project schedules, and sign up online at solveoregon.org/beach-riverside.
