Volunteers fill many dumpsters at Pottstown encampment cleanup [PHOTOS, VIDEO]

POTTSTOWN — More than 50 volunteers showed up along Keystone Boulevard Saturday to empty out debris from an abandoned homeless encampment there located between the Schuylkill River Trail and the river.

And, in answer to the observation that when one encampment is vacated “they have to go somewhere,” a new encampment has sprung up adjacent to a PECO substation on College Drive directly across from the entrance to Riverfront Park. The utility has posted notices it will be cleared on April 10.

Organized by a Bally-based group that calls itself The Deviators, at least four dumpsters — donated and transported for free by Diamond Disposal — were filled to overflowing and hauled away.

There was no shortage of shopping carts and Sherman Ellis Jr., the chief organizer, said the Pottstown Wal-Mart, which donated trash bags for the cleanup also promised to pick up their carts.

“They’re tough to get rid of because most stores won’t pick them up and we can’t recycle them,” said Ellis.

Ellis said this is the second clean-up of this sort he has organized and the number of people who showed up to help has doubled. “This is just an awesome turn-out. God is good,” he said. Many of those volunteers were from the Bally Mennonite Church, he said.

Also from Bally was Borough Councilman Josh Sloan who also was impressed with the number of volunteers who showed up. “I was at the first one we did in January when it was 25 degrees out,” he said with a laugh.

Ellis said the next clean-up at the same location is scheduled for April 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lunch was provided in the form of 80 hoagies from the Wawa in Hereford as well as chili from 242 Community Church.

After lunch, only the unwise got between the bullhorn and three of the several elected officials who showed up to lend a hand.

“I want to thank everyone who came out today,” said state Sen. Tracey Pennycuick, R-26th Dist. “We realize this is a problem beyond just Pottstown and we are working to find a solution.”

“I have no words for what it’s like back there,” said Ciresi who nevertheless found a few more words to offer. “We cannot as a society continue to allow people to live like this. This is not a Pottstown issue, this is everywhere.”

“My friend (Pottstown Councilwoman Trenita Lindsay) likes to say ‘it takes a village,’” said Pottstown Mayor Stephanie Henrick. “But what we’re seeing here today is a bigger village than just Pottstown. It took some people from outside the borough to say ‘I have a plan, let’s go.’”

That’s how Manatawny Street resident and former teacher George Gaul saw it. “We can’t keep talking about it and not do anything,” he said as he picked up a bin full of debris.

Stowe resident Kathy Parker also was at her second clean-up. Asked why, she said simply, “I’m local and I’m retired, and this is a good cause.”

The site was a point of contention last year when Pottstown officials announced its intention to sweep the area clean of those encamped there. Advocates sought an injunction in federal court, arguing the sweep violated the civil rights of those camped there. The judge refused to impose the injunction but also limited the borough’s ability to conduct the sweep saying the threat of arrest could not be used to compel the unhoused people there to leave.

Borough council voted to appeal the decision, but by then, most had left the site and only one person remained when Saturday’s clean-up took place.

However, some may have simply moved down the road to a smaller site adjacent to a PECO substation on College Drive and directly across from the main entrance to Riverfront Park.

PECO, which owns the property, has posted signs announcing the location will be cleaned out of all debris on or after April 10.