FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WFFT)- Across the summit city, thousands got out in their neighborhoods and parks Saturday morning for the Great American Clean up.

But members of the Bridge of Grace church on the city's southside took the clean up a step further, and got their hands dirty with paint.

Clair Council said her favorite part of the day was painting the fence at the playground on her street. An activity she called, "fencing." At 10 years old, she loves the park, and taking care of it and the neighborhood means she can keep playing.

"There's a lot of trash that gets out. People don't necessarily throw it. Sometimes they have it in their houses and when they open the door it flows out," she said.

Clair said she picked up a lot of trash today.

"I think I picked up a trash bag and a half, but there's a lot more than just that," she said.

And Steve Doan, another volunteer,  said that's why he brought his family up from Indianapolis for the day to help.

"Just in the several blocks that we canvassed for trash today there was a lot of trash, and it took many hands," Doan said.

A teacher from Ivy Tech in Fort Wayne, Deeann Knox, said she volunteered with her students to teach a valuable lesson, and make a difference.

"Digging, raking, mulching.. Doing painting. It's kind of fun. You can't say you don't like it if you've never done something, so come out and try it," she said.