Rep. Linda Schofield Wants Your Help in Keeping Simsbury Clean

Memories of the TV commercial showing a Native American with one lone tear streaming down his cheek still haunt those who grew up in the 1970s. The commercial made its point then and our nation began to pick up the garbage that had started to define the landscapes of towns and cities.

Today, State Rep. Linda Schofield (D-Simsbury) is leading by example for the fourth year in a row. Linda’s Litter Lugging Day will be held Saturday, April 9.

Linda’s Litter Lugging Day is an annual townwide clean up that Schofield organizes to rid Simsbury of litter that has collected on roads, in the woods, and across fields during the winter months. It has become an opportunity for the community to come together and do something to show its pride in Simsbury.

“Last year we had close to 200 volunteers and collected thousands of pounds of trash and recyclables,” said Schofield. “This is a great example of people working together and making a real difference in our community.”

Thus far, nearly 300 volunteers have signed up to clean up, including boy scouts, girl scouts, girls from The Ethel Walker School, students from The Master’s School and the football team, members of the town’s recycling committee and the Tariffville Village Association, as well as many families and individuals.

Volunteers will meet at the parking lot between 9 and 11 a.m. on Saturday, where they will be given a clean-up assignment, rubber gloves, trash bags, and orange safety vests. has donated these supplies in support of the cause, as well as refreshments for the volunteers.

This year, electronics will also be included — free of charge — in the clean up. Town residents can bring their electronic trash from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to town hall, where they may find themselves being recruited to join the effort. Paine’s will be donating its services and will have dumpsters and barrels in the town hall parking lot for all the recyclables and trash that the volunteers collect.

According to Schofield, the litter is the worst on the well-travelled roads bordered by woods and fields. She tries to assign people to areas where there are no houses or businesses, since most home owners and businesses can clean up their own properties. Volunteers, however, may sign up in advance for a particular section of a road if they prefer.

“I decided to do it because I really hate seeing litter on the side of the road. I was raised when the ‘Don’t be a Litter Bug’ campaign was big, and the message always stuck,” said Schofield, who also enjoys the feeling of community that comes with being outside and working together.

Interested volunteers should email Linda at Linda.Schofield@cga.ct.gov.