HOUSTON — Houston's Near Northside community is taking cleanup efforts into their own hands ahead of the school year.
The community gathered outside Marshall Middle School to clean up storm debris. This all began with people in the community coming together saying something needed to be done and it turns out, they are the ones to do it.
A campus full of broken tree limbs and tall grass isn't how the community around Marshall Middle School wants to start the new year.
“It's bad and we can't walk through there and there's so much debris from the hurricane,” said Belina Moreno, founder of the Near Northside Community Response Team.
But now with help from people in the community, students will enter the gates Monday morning and see all this gone. That’s if Moreno and other volunteers have it their way.
“That kid deserves to be able to walk through the gate and say, wow this is my school. And I don't think they're going to say that when they see this,” she said ahead of the cleanup efforts.
Community members are joining forces to clear it out. Moreno said while many are donating their time, they are also sharing resources, like lawnmowers, chainsaws, plastic bags and drinks. Noel Baldivino is stepping up for that part.
“I don't think one person, I don't think one organization, one business can rectify the whole situation. But what we can do as a community is do something," Moreno said.
The sense of community is the driving force behind this work. Many have lived there for a long time. Others just care to see it thrive and look good.
“We're not just going to complain. What can we do? That's how we feel about it because we have a sense of pride in our neighborhood," Baldivino said.
The vulnerable portions of the population are who they said deserve their focus. So, for the kids, it has to be done.
"We want them to have a great first day back to school. we want them to be proud of their community and proud of their school,” said Baldivino.
Houston ISD has responded to KHOU 11 News' request for comment.
After seeing our news segment, more community members joined in on the cleanup efforts.
