McKinley High School students volunteer to clean up property on Clinton Street

BUFFALO N.Y. (WIVB) — A group of students from McKinley High School rolled up their sleeves this weekend to clean up a property on Clinton Street.

Students spent their Saturday morning raking, weed-whacking and mowing with different local organizations.

“It actually means a lot because I used to live over here and I would come by here and pick up trash and stuff,” said junior Jaeden Bobbitt.

Re-Tree Chairman Paul Maurer called the property — which he hopes to preserve — historic and said it was owned by a company that made bricks.

When asked about the students who stepped up to help, Maurer’s face lit up with a smile.

“They were here before I was,” he said. “I was so happy to see them already in and running on this project.”

Plant WNY, a trade association of “green industry professionals,” along with McKinley High School students and faculty, anchored the project. Additional volunteers included members of Re-Tree WNY, Niagara Lawn & Garden Care and the Guys Weekend organization.

“Over the years there have been storms that have come through here and the homeowner has tried to keep up and it’s been too difficult a task,” Maurer said. “We’ve got many many volunteers to help.”

Ron Callea, who teaches horticulture at McKinley High School, said the volunteer project is “nothing new” for his students, who go out into the community frequently.

“We always practice leadership in Future Farmers of America,” Callea said. “We always talk about how good works always comes back tenfold. You always want to give more than you receive and they understand that.”

Callea hopes this project shines a positive light on the students who attend the school.

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Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.

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