Dan Adams (far left), LBWN neighborhood plan coordinator, posed with volunteers from Equitable Bank.

About 30 volunteers armed with shovels, garden shears and garbage bags gathered recently to clean up the Silver City business district. The neighborhood cleanup, which started in the late 1990s, was sponsored by the Southside Organizing Committee (SOC) and Layton Boulevard West Neighbors (LBWN).

“The idea is to get the neighbors involved and build a sense of community,” said Justin Shoman, volunteer manager for LBWN.

This year, volunteers included a crew from Equitable Bank, alumni from Public Allies Milwaukee and local residents.

Equitable Bank, 3418 W. National Ave, recruited about 10 employees and family members to the effort. “We have been here for years. We thought it would be great to give back to the community,” said Veron Gray, the community lending coordinator.

“We are directly helping the residents here and working on the issues they care about,” said Julio Guerrero, a volunteer from Public Allies.

Volunteers cleaned up brush behind Latino Auto Sales, 3705 W. National Ave.