VOLUNTEERS work together to clean up Covey Way at the Pavilion Place in Garden Grove Saturday morning (Orange County Tribune photos).

Two dozen and more volunteers put their rakes, shovels and backs where their civic pride is and labored for two hours to clean up a portion of a commercial center in Garden Grove Saturday morning.

In an event organized by the Garden Grove Neighborhood Association, the force descended on Covey Way – near Chapman Avenue and Brookhurst Street, which splits the Pavilion Place between the old Vons/Pavilion supermarket and the rest of the center – from 8-10 a.m. to clean up litter, dead vegetation and other debris.

MAUREEN BLACKMUN, GGNA president, with rake.

In addition to residents, the crew got help from several city employee volunteers, including Public Works Director Bill Murray. City vehicles were used to help collect the trash and the use of a “dumpster” was provided by Republic Services, which does garbage pickup for Garden Grove.

Also hustling a rake was Stephanie Klopfenstein (District 5 councilwoman and mayor pro tem). The Garden Grove Police Department was represented as well.

A principal organizer of the event was Maureen Blackmun, president of the GGNA.

“It seems like work,” according to Blackmun, “but it’s a ton of laughs and good feelings along with the accomplishments.”

But why clean up land that’s the responsibility of property owners, management or public agencies?

“Our city has limited resources,” said Blackmun. “Sometimes it takes more than just a staffer and a call or letter to get things done. We want to help.  Not because we are letting the management companies off the hook, but we want ownership of our city, too.”

If you missed a chance to help tidy up, there will be more opportunities, she said. “We took one step [toward] reclaiming our city streets and centers. We expect you to try it next time.”

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR Bill Murray (with blue cap) digs in at cleanup Saturday morning in Garden Grove.