CORRECTION: The costs for a plate of food for the event June 9 is $10. 

NILES — With summer vacation just around the corner for Niles children, city council member Georgia Boggs, who serves the first ward, wanted to create a project that would influence them to take pride in their neighborhood and help them earn some extra cash.

For the first time this summer, Boggs is hosting a first ward community cleanup from June through August. She hopes to have first ward children 13 years and up sign up to participate and be paid for their work.

To raise money to pay those who sign up, Boggs is hosting a barbecue fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 9, at 1305 N. Fifth St. in Niles. A barbecue chef will be selling chicken and rib plates for $10 a piece.

How much the youth are paid will depend on how much is raised through the fundraiser, Boggs said.

Boggs said she hopes the project is one that encourages youth to care about their city.

“The kids will be taking pride in their neighborhood,” Boggs said. “We hope from this we will be able to pay them something. It will give them something to do in the evening.”

Boggs said she was inspired to host the cleanup after looking around her first ward. She said she has seen a lot of trash lately and hopes to change that.

“I walk around the ward all of the time, and I pick up bags of trash,” Boggs said, “so that is one of, the reasons why. I want to live in a neighborhood I am proud of and I want everyone to live in a neighborhood they are proud of.”

After the fundraiser, Boggs hopes to start the cleanup soon. Volunteer block captains will help to supervise the youth and several volunteers have already expressed interest. Boggs encouraged anyone interested in being a volunteer to call her to sign up at (269) 683-3873.

She also encouraged any children in the first ward to sign up for the project. Those who sign up would work two to three hours in the evenings. To find out available shift details, those interested are advised to call Boggs.

Boggs said she thought it would be a good way to help youth earn some extra money and take pride in their neighborhood.

“There’s never money for kids in the summer,” Boggs said. “In my ward, I see too many kids wandering around the neighborhood getting in trouble. So, we are going to try and focus on helping them to do something productive for their community and feel proud.”

Boggs said she hopes the cleanup will inspire other wards to do something similar. She also hopes that the project is something that can continue for years to come.

“Maybe we can start working with grants later on to see if there is enough interest,” Boggs said.

Already seven block captains have volunteered and three children have signed up. She said the project is one that might be beneficial to families to do together in the evenings.

“We want to get the families working together, neighbors working together, showing their love for each other,” Boggs said.

Boggs encouraged people to get some barbecue June 9 and help efforts to better the community.

“I want people to support the children,” Boggs said. “Help them earn some money for the summer and take pride in their neighborhood.”