Although Alborn Tire Sales has seen a decline in business during this Coronavirus crisis, it isn’t keeping the employees and owner from doing what they can for the community.
“Operation Clean Up” will begin tomorrow at 10 a.m. The Alborn group is welcoming the community to join them in an effort to clean up the downtown Ellwood City Area. Tasks will include pulling weeds, picking up trash, and disinfecting the parking meters, the benches, the crosswalk buttons, the community plaza and the Seventh Street Park.
Local businesses—T&M Hardware, Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ, National Grind, and Katy’s Bakery—have chipped into the efforts providing donations of food and supplies.
“This is what makes our little community an amazing place,” said Justin Neupauer of Alborn Tires.
Neupauer said anyone wishing to join the effort can gather at the tire shop. Supplies will be provided—including gloves—and social distancing practices will be followed. He said so far “Operation Clean Up” has about 25 volunteers.
According to Neupauer as soon as he saw a lack of work for his employees, he began to get worried.
“Once I looked at this upcoming week’s schedule, I knew I would not have enough work for everyone. The last thing I ever want to do is lay anyone off,” Neupauer said. “After taking a ride downtown and seeing some trash laying around I thought in our slow time we can clean it up and give back to our town.”
As far as volunteers go, Neupauer said he knew he didn’t have to worry.
“I am not really surprised at the response from the community,” he said. “The people in our community always pull together and make amazing things happen. I would just like to remind everyone that small businesses are the backbone of our city and we need to continue to support them during their time of need.”
Why on earth does anyone think this is a good idea with the Coronvirus going rampant. There is a social distancing order in place for this reason. It only takes one individual to spread this virus to many others because it is airborne and also sticks to surfaces for hours at a time! Do you want to maybe spread this to an elderly person or someone who is immunosuppressed. Gloves are useless because someone can rub their mouth, nose or eyes and that’s all it takes. I’m sorry but this is a ridiculous idea at this point in time! Look at all the hotspots in the country and this happened because someone wanted to have a social activity and invariably has now caused people to die!