Neighbor leads charity cleanup

James Bie of Crystal Bay in La Jolla has organized a neighborhood spring cleanup on June 26 to benefit Father Joe’s Villages.

Bie said he had some things he wanted to donate to the charity, but not enough to warrant a truck and crew from Father Joe’s. “So I made a flier asking my neighbors in this gated community if they had stuff to donate as well,” Bie said. “I asked them to sort through their garages, attics and closets to find items they no longer want or need and I’d have the crew here to take it all away.”

Bie said so far 12 of his neighbors called to be included in the pickup, noting that they had DVDs, furniture, kitchen goods and much more to give to the less fortunate.

Bie said Father Joe’s Villages will either sell the goods to raise money for the homeless and hungry or pass them along to families in need.

Bie called the La Jolla Light about the event, hoping it would trigger other such “cleanups” for charity in neighborhoods around town.