Red Up Altuna founder urges neighbors to 'be the change' with focused cleanups and more public amenities

Devon Sailor, founder of the Red Up Altuna Foundation, told the Blair County Beat that a single Facebook post after seeing litter near Green Bean Coffee House set off the volunteer effort that eventually became a nonprofit.

"I just made a Facebook post and said, 'What if we all just went out in the community and picked up the litter?'" Sailor said, describing the initial spark that drew local volunteers. He said the group began informally about four years ago and later organized as a foundation to raise money for repairs and small public‑space projects.

Sailor said the organization has evolved from frequent, ad‑hoc cleanups to a more structured schedule designed to improve turnout: "The first year we had like almost 30 [cleanups]. Now we're probably doing closer to 16 over the course of the year," he said. Typical events run about two to two‑and‑a‑half hours and start with equipment distribution, safety briefings and volunteer group assignments.

The foundation relies on a mix of volunteers — young adults, families and older residents — and on outreach through a Red Up Altuna Facebook page and a community Facebook group that lets neighbors report highly littered areas, Sailor said. "A big part of Red Up is community building," he said. "People come, they talk, we mingle, and then we go out in the community."

Sailor credited partnerships with local public works and state programs for early resources. He named PennDOT and Pennsylvania Beautiful as sources of personal protective equipment such as vests and gloves, and said city public works helps haul collected trash from designated drop points. "Without them we would not have all of the PPE," he said.

Asked about challenges, Sailor said the biggest constraints are time and organizational capacity. "I'm still learning delegation," he said. He described mentorship from local nonprofit leaders — including Tim Balcone of the PMC Foundation — and cooperation from city council members as crucial to translating volunteer energy into sustained projects.

Sailor emphasized small, tangible improvements as priorities for the group's next phase: more benches, trash cans, and dog‑waste bins in neighborhoods, with local volunteers or neighbors taking responsibility for routine maintenance. He also said Red Up hopes to purchase a parcel for a tool shed, equipment storage and a pavilion that could double as an outdoor meeting site.

On safety and misconceptions, Sailor said volunteers sometimes find drug paraphernalia but far less frequently than some expect. "We do find them," he said, "but not nearly as often as people might think." He also framed cleanup work as environmental action, noting that litter contributes to microplastics and water pollution.

Sailor closed with a direct appeal for civic action: "You got to go out there and be the change you want to see in your community," he said, encouraging listeners to commit a year to local volunteering to see tangible results.

The interview ended with the program moderator thanking Sailor and directing listeners to the Red Up Altuna Foundation Facebook page for event information and volunteer signups.