Cleveland Clinic Beautifies a Record 56 Yards in Community Cleanup Effort

On June 3, Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital hosted its 17th annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors community improvement event.

Volunteers – including hospital leaders and caregivers – spent the morning providing free landscaping services for a record 56 homes throughout Warrensville Heights.

For many, the day is about more than yardwork – it’s about building relationships.

Sgt. Nicole Drayton of the Cleveland Clinic Police Department, who has been involved with the event for several years, volunteered again this year alongside her son.

“Neighbors Helping Neighbors is such an important event for the community,” said Sgt. Drayton. “It gets us out of the hospital and gives us a chance to help our senior residents. We’re doing work they can’t always do themselves, and that matters. Plus, I love talking to residents – you really get to know the people who live here.”

For residents, the event is a tradition they count on.

Delores Cooper Anthony, an 84-year-old resident and former president of the Eastwood Homeowners Association, has seen the event grow since its early days.

“I was with the first group that started this, so it’s a blessing to still be here and see it today,” she said. “Our whole street is seniors, and we really appreciate the hospital coming to help with things we aren’t able to do ourselves.”

Throughout the day, teams worked side by side to refresh properties and improve safety, tackling projects such as:

• Weeding and yard cleanup
• Mulching and planting flowers
• Removing overgrown bushes
• Pruning trees and shrubs

This year’s effort was supported by Infinity Construction and Warrensville Heights City Council Member Andrea Mitchell.