The University of Connecticut and Town of Mansfield are partnering again for the second “Don’t Mess with Mansfield” community litter cleanup on April 27, after a successful pilot event in November drew 140 volunteers and collected 116 bags of trash.  

“Participating in ‘Don’t Mess with Mansfield’ and being able to physically see the litter that you’ve removed from the environment – litter that’s not going to make its way down through waterways to the ocean, litter that’s not going to trap little creatures – is like a concrete action that you can take to do something good for the environment, but also to take care of your home for yourself and for other people who share the community,” says Betsy Mortensen, communication outreach and education coordinator at the Office of Sustainability.  

The inaugural “Don’t Mess with Mansfield” in November was the first major collaboration between the town and Office of Sustainability. Its success moved organizers to continue their efforts.  

“We really want to have an established relationship with the Town of Mansfield and the Office of Sustainability, and then UConn in general,” says Amanda Stowe’ 26 (CAHNR), an intern at the Office of Sustainability. “A lot of times I feel like people look at UConn and think students are polluting and students are throwing their litter on the side of the road, but we want to wipe that perception and show that students want to give back to their community and clean up.” 

The Town/University Relations Committee of Mansfield and the Office of Sustainability came up with the idea of a cleanup after citizens brought up the issue of litter in neighborhoods surrounding UConn.  

“It was out of a desire to do something good for the town together and to enhance relationships between students and community members,” says Mortensen.  

This event is a way to work together for environmental improvements while cultivating relationships between town residents and University students. From the Mansfield side, communications specialist Margaret Chatey and recycling coordinator Virginia “Ginny” Walton have worked closest on this project. 

 “Everyone can go out for a few hours, roll up their sleeves, have some fun, enjoy the outdoors together and benefit the community,” says Chatey. 

“We want to host it twice a year,” adds Mortensen. “Once after the leaves are gone and another time before they start falling again.” 

After assessing the success of the first cleanup, the Office of Sustainability has been expanding its goals.  

“This semester we are focusing on targeting the areas that have the biggest buildup of litter and getting more volunteers to come out,” says Claire Lawrence ’26 (CLAS), an intern at the Office of Sustainability.  

Chatey says she wants students who take great pride in their university to have the opportunity to put forth that same attitude for their university’s locale.  

“I hope that the university students, even if they only live here from August to May, that when they’re living here in Mansfield, they really consider this as their new hometown,” says Chatey. “It’s such a bonus to the Town of Mansfield to have all residents, no matter what age or what their longtime relationship is to Mansfield, recognize that litter is a detriment and want to clean it up.” 

Mansfield has several other townwide litter cleanup initiatives, including “Adopt a Road,” a program in which residents or organizations make a commitment to clean up a portion of a road throughout the year.  

This year, Greek organizations have been working on keeping Hunting Lodge Road and Separatist Road clean, says Walton.  

“We’re excited to have UConn and these organizations helping us, especially among those well-traveled roads,” says Walton.  

This semester, UConn’s Center for Fraternity and Sorority Development is a partner sponsor of the event, bringing in a large number of volunteers for the day’s work.  

On the day of the cleanup, volunteers will have the opportunity to address areas of campus such as its core near the Student Union, Hunting Lodge Road, Separatist Road, North Eagleville Road, Eastwood Road, or Westwood Road. 

“It’s very meaningful because it’s an engagement with the University on roads that are outside of the campus orbit,” says Walton. “So, there’s this connection between the town and the University, and I’m really happy that these organizations have been stepping up and participating.”  

“I think it is important to acknowledge that how we treat our campus and surrounding areas impacts not only students, but wildlife and neighboring towns,” says Lawrence. “If everyone would do their part and take the afternoon to look after our common spaces, we could keep the environment happy and healthy.” 

The success of these cleanup events is only anticipated to grow.  

“I hope that it can be a fun event with hundreds of students and community members participating and building connections while also cleaning up our town,” says Mortensen. 

“Don’t Mess with Mansfield” falls on the same weekend as the town’s Earth Day initiatives. 

In addition to volunteering at “Don’t Mess with Mansfield” on April 27, residents have the chance to participate in events on April 26, including a townwide tag sale and activities and exhibitions at the Mansfield Community Center.  

“It benefits everyone to have an active role in their community and sometimes that is the simple action of going out and picking up litter for a few hours with people you’ve never met before,” says Walton. “That’s what is an authentic experience. It’s hands-on making a difference.”