Volunteers Clean Up the Streets for National Day of Service

A family scours Valencia Street for trash as part of the National Day of Service

In honor of Martin Luther King's birthday, groups around the country are heeding President-elect Obama's call for a National Day of Service.  

In San Francisco, A Good Idea volunteers combed the Mission, Civic Center, and Downtown with garbage bags and latex gloves, picking up trash and spreading good cheer.  It was amazing how much trash sanitation vehicles had missed along Valencia Street and the difference that 70 volunteers could make sweeping down both curbs, their shirts encouraging onlookers to "Be the Change."

Jared Paul, Founder of A Good Idea

"We've focused on food and housing for the homeless, but we had never done anything for the environment," said Jared Paul, founder of A Good Idea.  "We thought this would be a good way to get people involved on the street without them having to spend much money.  It's really nice to be a part of National Service Day and know this is going on all over the country."

If you saw similar street cleaning or community improvement projects today in San Francisco, please send us your pictures or accounts of actions.  Happy Day of Service!

Photos: Matthew Roth