Orlando, Fla. – More than 650 volunteers from First Presbyterian Church of Orlando spread out across downtown Saturday morning, picking up trash as part of the church’s 150th anniversary celebration.
The effort, organized in partnership with the nonprofit Keep Orlando Beautiful, sent volunteers along multiple routes through the downtown area to collect litter and help clean streets surrounding the historic church.
Recommended Videos
During the event, Buddy Dyer issued a mayoral proclamation declaring March 7, 2026, “First Presbyterian Church Day” in Orlando to recognize the church’s long history of service in the city.
First Presbyterian Church traces its beginnings to March 1876, making it one of Orlando’s longest-standing institutions.
“We are having a celebration this weekend in honor of our 150th anniversary as a church,” said the church’s senior pastor, David Swanson. “We started in March of 1876. So we had a big dinner last night, but part of our core mission since the very beginning has been to love and serve our city. And so whatever we did this weekend, we knew that we were going to be serving our city in some capacity.”
Volunteers were equipped with safety vests, grabber tools and buckets as they walked through downtown streets collecting litter. The city later picked up the filled trash bags.
Swanson said the turnout was the largest group the nonprofit had ever coordinated for a cleanup effort.
“We have about 650 people here this morning, and Keep Orlando Beautiful just said that’s the biggest group that they’ve ever had to go out and serve the city. So we’re pretty excited about that,” he said.
Participants said the event was a chance to connect with their community while working alongside fellow church members.
“I think it’s fantastic. It’s a great way for our church to love our city and serve, and we’re so excited to be a part of it,” one volunteer said.
Another volunteer said the group had already found a few unexpected items while cleaning.
“I don’t know. We’ve picked up some full liquor bottles. Some containers. Some clothing,” the volunteer said.
Swanson said serving the surrounding community has always been central to the church’s mission as a downtown congregation.
“You know, I think we have always had a commitment to the value of being a city center church,” he said. “When you think about downtown city center areas, that’s where you get the whole gamut of the human experience in a very concentrated area … and so we just believe very strongly in being downtown.”
Church leaders said they hope the cleanup effort reflects the same spirit of service that has defined the church for the past 150 years — and will continue to shape its future in downtown Orlando.