The Blade: First-ever UpTown cleanup serves a dual purpose
November 21, 2025
First-ever UpTown cleanup serves a dual purpose
About 75 volunteers participated in the first-ever UpTown Cleanup Day on Friday.
Beyond the obvious goal of helping one of Toledo’s near-downtown neighborhoods make more strides toward a comeback, the event had a more serious objective for some of the participants: keeping an eye out for homeless people in need of services.
The Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board was one of the event partners for that reason.
It viewed the cleanup as a chance to become more visible and possibly connect more directly with those in need, said Julie Embree, the board’s executive director.
“There’s been an increase in the number of folks on the street, with the economy the way it is and the lack of affordable housing,” she said. “We want to provide grace to our homeless folks.”
Toledo’s regular number of 588 shelter beds are at capacity, Ms. Embree said.
“There are more than 250 people on wait lists now,” she said.
Sandra De Steno, United Way of Greater Toledo 211 director, said that wait list includes about 175 families.
The last time the need was this great was during the coronavirus pandemic. She said relief came back then in the form of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Also called the coronavirus stimulus package, ARPA provided $1.9 trillion in federal money to help cities nationwide.
Now, there are “fewer and fewer resources to stabilize them,” Ms. De Steno said of homeless people.
“There’s a lot of people focused on [donating] food right now, but food is only one of the many things that people need,” she said.
Lisa Pengov, the homelessness board’s operations manager, said the problem “keeps getting worse.”
“We have a lot of encampments popping up right now,” she said. “Homeless individuals are staying out on the street because all of the shelters are full. The encampments are getting larger and larger, and we’re getting more people on the street.”
The event was organized by ConnecToledo, in partnership with Downtown Toledo Improvement District.
Betsy Ujvagi, ConnecToledo office manager, agreed the cleanup was a good “visibility opportunity” for the homelessness board to help expand its reach.
“We’re in a different environment this year,” Ms. Embree said. “We anticipate the number of people we see on the street is going to grow. Let’s find some grace and connection for our unsheltered folks. We’re asking our businesses for help to do that.
As much as anything, Ms. Embree said, the UpTown district cleanup was an event “to showcase how we can work together and find solutions.”
She and others said they hope it expands to other neighborhood districts.
They saw Friday’s event as the kickoff for multiple cleanups in the spring and fall of 2026.
One of the many other groups involved was Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful.
Its executive director, Adam Cassi, said that group provided gloves, bags, litter tongs, and other supplies.
Volunteers met at 10 a.m. at UpTown Green, 1904 Madison Ave., and spent a couple of hours picking up litter.
“It’s a way to beautify our city, but it also shows people are dedicated to making our city a good place to live,” Mr. Cassi said.
He said cleanups are good for residents and good for the business community.
“There’s a lot of research that says once an area is clean it’s easier to keep it that way,” Mr. Cassi said. “It shows that we take pride in our city, and that littering is socially unacceptable.”
One of the people picking up trash was Johnathan Nichols, 35, Family House marketing and development director.
“We’ve seen an increased need and we continue to rally for community support to serve the families,” Mr. Nichols said.
Another volunteer, Corey Julius, 34, works at the nearby Toledo Metro Federal Credit Union, 1212 Adams St., as its vice president of lending.
“I want to give back to the community. Helping to clean up is an easy way for us average people to chip in a bit,” Mr. Julius said. “I was pleasantly surprised to see the turnout. Honestly, there are more people than I expected to be here.”
First Published November 14, 2025, 4:30 p.m.
For Carla Prenkert, founder and director of Build the Children , supporting families in need has always been about more than providing necessities. It is about helping people feel seen, supported and capable of building a better future for themselves and their children. Her connection to Leading Families Home began in 2020 through a school supply and essentials drive supporting families staying at the organization’s Beach House shelter on Erie Street. After hearing about the shelter through an acquaintance who worked as a social worker, Prenkert decided to learn more about the organization and its mission. “That experience really tugged at my heart,” Prenkert said. “I immediately saw how important their work was and how committed they were to helping families move forward.” What began as a simple introduction quickly grew into an ongoing partnership centered around helping families experiencing homelessness find stability and hope. More Than Temporary Shelter According to Prenkert, what sets Leading Families Home apart is its focus on long-term success rather than short-term solutions. The organization’s approach helps families build the foundation for independence by offering guidance, resources and opportunities to rebuild their lives. “They don’t just provide shelter,” she said. “They provide life-changing support.” Over the years, Prenkert has witnessed countless examples of transformation among families served by Leading Families Home. “I’ve seen young mothers earn their GEDs, parents regain custody of their children and fathers complete job training programs and find stable work,” Prenkert said. “They help people rediscover their confidence and realize they are capable of more.” She also praised the organization’s ongoing support for families after they transition out of shelter programs. “They continue to be a resource long after families leave,” she said. “That continued support is incredibly important because stability doesn’t happen overnight.” Changing Perspectives on Homelessness Prenkert believes one of the biggest misconceptions about homelessness is the idea that it could never happen to the average person. “No one is immune,” she said. “A series of unfortunate events, rising housing costs, low wages and exhausted resources can put families in very difficult situations.” She explained that many families also face barriers the public often doesn’t see, including challenges related to documentation, paperwork, finances and prejudice. As a retired nurse with more than 40 years of experience, Prenkert said partnering with Leading Families Home has deepened her understanding of the realities families face and changed her own perspective. “This work educated me and removed any prejudice I may have had,” she said. “I’ve witnessed the power of making people feel seen, valued and supported.” She added that families cannot begin healing or planning for the future while focused solely on survival. “People can’t truly move forward until they’re in a place where they can finally breathe,” Prenkert said. Strengthening the Community Together Prenkert also credits Leading Families Home with helping strengthen collaboration among nonprofit organizations throughout the Toledo community. “They do an amazing job making the needs of families experiencing homelessness known and helping organizations understand how they can help,” she said. She explained that the partnership has also helped Build the Children better understand the specific needs of children and families living in shelters, allowing the organization to provide more meaningful support. For Prenkert, one of the most fulfilling parts of the partnership has been the opportunity to bring joy and encouragement to families during difficult times. “Leading Families Home creates the foundation that allows families to move beyond basic survival,” she said. “That gives organizations like ours the opportunity to come alongside them and provide moments of joy, love and hope.” Looking Ahead As Leading Families Home continues its mission, Prenkert hopes to see even more people step forward to support the organization and the families it serves. “It takes a community to make this happen,” she said. “There is no ‘we’ and ‘they.’ We all have a responsibility to help each other.” When asked why Leading Families Home’s work matters, Prenkert’s answer was simple. “It comes down to basic morality and humanity,” she said. “Most people would do better if they were given the opportunity and support to succeed.”
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