One man began clearing dumped trash alone; his daily cleanups grew into a 100-volunteer movement

Andrew Beaver who runs “Clean the Block” removes debris with other volunteers What started as one man's effort to clear dumped furniture and rubbish in south Houston has grown into a 100-person volunteer campaign to clean up historically underserved neighbourhoods.Andrew Beaver, 37, began clearing abandoned lots and alleyways in November without any experience running an organisation. Today, his nonprofit Clean the Block organises group cleanups across neighbourhoods like Sunnyside and Third Ward, filling hire trucks with illegally dumped waste."I grew up thinking, ‘Trash is disgusting. Someone should do something about it,’" said Beaver, a real estate investor who manages local properties. "But I’m in this area, I invest here, and if it’s giving so much to me, I wanted to find a way to give back."As reported Houston Chronicle, a recent Sunday cleanup in Sunnyside brought together about 100 volunteers. Armed with walkie-talkies and heavy gloves, participants cleared narrow alleyways, nearby streets, creeks and vacant lots while listening to music from portable speakers.Building momentum online and on footThe Sunday cleanup gained support through a partnership with Sole Ties Run Clu...