A growing community effort to clean up Daviess County is returning this spring, with organizers emphasizing that anyone can take part on their own schedule or join the main event on April 18.
The Issac Sterett Adventure Foundation will host its fourth annual Operation Cleanup, a volunteer-driven initiative aimed at beautifying the city while encouraging families to spend time outdoors and give back.
Katie Sterett said the idea for the event originated during an outreach meeting several years ago, when board members discussed concerns about litter throughout the community.
“This is something that is important to us as a family,” Sterett said. “The inspiration came years ago at an outreach meeting that we were having within our board. Someone was talking about how frustrated they were with the amount of trash they had seen just floating around town, and it just took off that day.”
Sterett said the project quickly aligned with the foundation’s mission of encouraging families to unplug and engage in meaningful activities together.
“It would be a perfect outreach project, beautification project for Owensboro, and would fit our mission and vision so well,” she said. “It was a no-brainer.”
The event has grown steadily each year. In 2025, Operation Cleanup drew 772 volunteers and around 30 teams. Organizers are aiming for at least 800 volunteers and 40 teams this year.
Julia Hartz Tipmore, director of the foundation, said participation has already begun ahead of the official date, with schools and groups organizing their own cleanup efforts.
“We’ve already had several groups participate, so we really want to stress that people can participate anytime,” Tipmore said. “You don’t just have to pick up trash on April 18. We can drop off supplies, and it will still count.”
The main event will take place on the morning of April 18 at the foundation’s building on Allen Street. Day-of registration begins at 7 a.m., followed by a blessing and welcome at 7:30 a.m. Volunteers then disperse across the community to collect trash, with all items due back by 10 a.m. for judging. Winners will be announced around 10:30 a.m.
Tipmore said the shorter timeframe is intentional to make participation more accessible.
“It’s just the morning,” she said. “We try to make it quick so you can move on with your day.”
Participants can choose their own cleanup locations, whether around schools, businesses, or neighborhoods. The foundation also provides suggested areas in need of attention.
Organizers supply gloves, trash bags, pickers, and neon safety shirts to volunteers. While online registration is encouraged to help with planning, many participants sign up or show up on the day of the event.
In addition to traditional awards, organizers are introducing a new category this year called the “Junkyard Joke,” which recognizes the most unusual or humorous item collected.
“There are so many items that are found that are just hilarious,” Tipmore said. “Issac’s name means laughter, and so it just felt right to honor him with that.”
The event has also received statewide recognition. Operation Cleanup was named one of five finalists in Kentucky Living’s Beautify the Bluegrass program last year.
Sterett said the impact goes beyond collecting trash.
“It teaches these behaviors that will hopefully stick as children grow up,” she said. “They realize how silly littering can be and what a difference it makes when your community looks good.”
Organizers encourage individuals, families, schools, and businesses to get involved, whether during the official event or at another time that fits their schedule.
“It’s really easy to do, and it can only take 30 minutes of your day,” Sterett said. “It’s just a win.”
