The East Peoria Community High School Track and Field teams participated in their first Trash for Cash fundraiser by cleaning up trash on the side of designated roads.
With a goal of $5000, student athletes filled garbage bags with trash found along Cole Street, Muller Road, Matheny Road, Fahey Hollow Road, Ridge Road, Farmdale Road, and part of Pleasant Hill Road in East Peoria.
Justin Hamilton is the head coach for the boys’ track and field team. He said he hopes to make this fundraiser a bi-annual effort.
“I've always wanted to do something more of a service type oriented fundraiser instead of selling products. And so I've had trash for cash on my mind for a long time,” he said.
The money raised will go towards purchasing new pole vault pads for the East Side Center where the students train.
Lizzy Beiber is a junior at East Peoria Community High School. She said while picking up trash isn’t the most fun thing to do, she still had fun with her fellow athletes.
“We're out here, picking trash up instead of selling cookies like everybody else does,” Beiber said, “We're picking trash up and actually giving back to the community as the community has served us through our high school years. “
Information on how to donate to the East Peoria Track and Field team can be found here.
