Media Alert: Media Alert: Pick It Up, Portland! At Holladay Park (Photo) -06/04/25

***Media Advisory – All Media Are Invited***

 

What: Pick It Up, Portland! presented by Pacific Corp

When: Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Where: NE 11th Ave and Multnomah St., Portland, OR 97232| Map Link

 

Event Description: Pick it Up, Portland! returns for its ninth year on World Environment Day, June 5, 2025, at four different event locations across the city. From Holladay Park, Downtown Market Street, along the Eastbank Esplanade, to Sellwood Riverfront Park, volunteers will celebrate the 2025 motto "The Journey to a Greener Future."

 

Why: Litter poses a significant threat to our community's well-being, affecting the aesthetics and overall health of our streets, neighborhoods, and waterways. SOLVE's mission is to create opportunities for residents, businesses, and volunteers from all corners of Portland to give back to their communities and play a critical role in maintaining the beauty and integrity of our city from the harmful effects of trash. Together, we can create cleaner, more inviting spaces that reflect our pride in the city and care for our community. Pick It Up! is a large-scale cleanup event that brings residents, businesses, and volunteers together, city by city, across the region, coming to different communities throughout the year.

 

Media Crews: Arrive by 9:45 am at Holladay Park see approximately 100 volunteers of all ages checking in, collecting their cleanup supplies, receiving a safety speech and event overview, and then heading out in groups to pick up litter in the surrounding area. The event will run from 10 am to 12 pm with volunteers expected to spread throughout the Lloyd District.

This event will have plenty of visuals of volunteers picking up litter, making for great community packages, VOs, and VOSOTS.

 

Available interviewees: 

• Kris Carico, Chief Executive Officer, SOLVE

Pick It Up, Portland! 2025 is made possible by the generous support of Pacific Corp and other event sponsors, including AAA Oregon/Idaho, City of Portland, KOIN6, Lithia Driveway, Metro, Oceanic Global & Corona Protect Our Beaches, OnPoint, Plaid Pantry, and Wells Fargo.

 

 

Visit the Pick It Up, Portland! page on the SOLVE website or the event registration page for more information.

 

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About SOLVE:

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. You can follow SOLVE on Instagram at @SOLVEinOregon, Facebook at @SOLVEOregon, or at www.solveoregon.org. 

Media Alert: Detrash Portland With CareOregon And The Portland Rose Festival Foundation (Photo) -05/20/25

***Media Advisory – All Media Are Invited***

 

What: Detrash Portland, sponsored by CareOregon

When: Wednesday, May 21, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Where: 315 SW 5th Ave Portland, OR 97204| Map Link

 

Event Description: Join SOLVE for a community-driven initiative to prepare Downtown Portland and the SW Waterfront for the annual Rose Festival. Together with CareOregon and the Portland Rose Festival Foundation, volunteers will beautify our public spaces, ensuring a clean and welcoming environment for festival visitors, and make a positive impact during one of the city’s most cherished events.

 

Why: Portland's business districts are the heartbeat of our city and keeping them clean is vital to our economy and the environment. Litter poses a significant threat to our community's well-being, affecting the aesthetics and overall health of our streets, neighborhoods, and waterways. SOLVE's mission is to create opportunities for individuals and businesses to give back to their communities and play a critical role in maintaining the beauty and integrity of our city from the harmful effects of trash. Together, we can create a cleaner, more inviting downtown that reflects our pride in the city and care for our community.

 

Media Crews: Arrive by 9:45 am outside of the CareOregon offices on 5th Ave to see approximately 100 volunteers of all ages checking in, collecting their cleanup supplies, receiving a safety speech and event overview, and then heading out in groups to pick up litter in the surrounding area. The event will run from 10 am to 12 pm, with volunteers expected to spread throughout the Downtown area and the SW Waterfront.

 

This event will have plenty of visuals of volunteers picking up litter, making for great community packages, VOs, and VOSOTS.

 

Available interviewees: 

• Kris Carico, Chief Executive Officer, SOLVE
• Kayleen VanDuzer, Senior Community Impact and Events Specialist, CareOregon

Detrash Portland 2025 is presented by The Standard, Fed Meyer, CareOregon, Miller Nash, Swire Coca Cola, and Dunn Carney.

Visit the Detrash Portland page on the SOLVE website or the event registration page for more information.

 

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About SOLVE:

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. You can follow SOLVE on Instagram at @SOLVEinOregon, Facebook at @SOLVEOregon, or at www.solveoregon.org. 

Press Release: SOLVE And WES Kick Off 2025 Summer-Long Waterway Cleanup Series (Photo) -05/13/25

Portland, Ore., May 13, 2025 – The 2025 Waterway Cleanup Series is officially underway, marking the eighth year of partnership between SOLVE and Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES). This seasonal initiative unites community members in protecting Oregon’s rivers, streams, and creeks through hands-on litter cleanup events across the region.

 

The series launched with a successful cleanup along the Willamette River at Meldrum Bar Park in Gladstone, where 31 volunteers helped preserve the park’s wetlands and removed 791 pounds of litter from this ecologically and recreationally vital area. Popular with families, anglers, and summer visitors, Meldrum Bar Park is just one example of how clean waterways contribute to both healthy ecosystems and vibrant community spaces. The Waterway Cleanup Series will continue throughout the summer and conclude with a final event along the shores of the Clackamas River on October 15 at High Rocks Park.

 

Protecting waterways is critical to both environmental and public health. Trash that accumulates in inland areas—on sidewalks, roadsides, or riverbanks—can travel through storm drains into nearby creeks, streams, and rivers, eventually making its way to the ocean. This journey, powered by rainfall and stormwater runoff, turns local litter into a far-reaching threat, harming wildlife, polluting water sources, and degrading natural habitat along the way. Cleanups not only reduce this risk—they also help ensure that popular recreation areas remain safe, beautiful, and accessible to all.

 

“Every piece of trash removed represents one less pollutant that could harm wildlife or degrade water quality,” said Kris Carico, CEO of SOLVE. “The Waterway Cleanup Series is about more than litter—it’s about people coming together to protect the places we love. We’re grateful to our volunteers and the partnership with Clackamas Water Environment Services for making that possible.”

 

SOLVE and WES are now calling on individuals, businesses, community groups, and organizations to join a waterway cleanup event or host their own cleanup events this summer. Whether it’s a local creek, popular swimming hole, or neighborhood stream, volunteers can take action in the places that matter most to them. All events are family-friendly and supported with supplies, promotional help, and planning guidance.

 

In 2024, more than 1,500 volunteers participated in 61 events, collecting over 30,000 pounds of litter from Oregon and SW Washington’s waterways and natural areas. This year, the series aims to inspire even greater impact.

 

Get Involved:
Explore upcoming events or learn how to organize your own waterway cleanup at www.solveoregon.org/waterway-series.

 

About SOLVE 

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information. 

 

About Clackamas Water Environment Services

Clackamas Water Environment Services produces clean water, protects water quality and recovers renewable resources. We do this by providing wastewater services, stormwater management, and environmental education. It’s our job to protect public health and support the vitality of our communities, natural environment, and economy. Learn more.