SAFFORD — The Gila Watershed Partnership is doing something different for this month’s cleanup along the Gila River.
The Gila Valley Samaritan Home has asked GWP to team for a clean of the area under the 8th Avenue Bridge in Safford.
“We are going to be collaborating with some of the unhoused people who live there, working with them to make their community clean as well as just do kind of general cleaning in the area,” said Dr. Sarah Sayles, GWP executive director.
Sayles said the cleanup originally planned for the river under the Pima Bridge this month has been moved to November.
The Samaritan Home serves Graham County’s homeless population, providing a location for a shower, to wash clothes, get cold water and help with finding permanent lodging.
The Samaritan Home was started by the Gila Valley Ministerial Association and, according to Vaughn Grant with the Ministerial Association, has averaged about 28 people being served each month since opening in August 2023.
“The Homeless ID Project, that’s brand new and we’ve only been doing that for three months,” Grant said. “We are now certified individuals that help people get identity — their driver’s license, Social Security cards, things along that line.”
The Gila River Cleanup will take place Sunday, Sept. 29, from 7-10 a.m. Volunteers are asked to RSVP at gilavalleysamaritanhome@gmail.com.
