Neighbors lead the way in cleaning up their community

HOUSTON, Texas -- Volunteers are stepping up to make a difference in their community, coming together to clean it up and take pride in their neighborhood.

The effort is led by the nonprofit Clean the Block, founded by Andrew Beaver in 2024.

As a real estate developer in Sunnyside, Beaver told us he often heard neighbors complain about trash and illegal dumping in the neighborhood. That's when Beaver decided to take matters into his own hands and invited others to join.

"The very first one (cleanup), there was one other guy," Beaver remembers. "I would say for the next four to five weeks, it was two to 14 people."

With the help of social media, the movement grew.

Today, Clean the Block hosts monthly cleanups, with volunteer sign-ups reaching into the hundreds.

ABC13 joined the organization one Saturday morning as Clean the Block collected trash in the Fifth Ward. Take a look at the work that goes into a cleanup in the video above, and hear from volunteers passionate about beautifying the community.

For information on the next cleanup, visit Clean the Block on Instagram.