MOSES LAKE - The sun was just rising as volunteers spread through downtown Moses Lake to clean sidewalks Saturday morning.

The annual Moses Lake Citywide Clean Up began with a good hose-down thanks to volunteers, donated water trucks, and plenty of good intentions.

Marianne Bondi, of the Moses Lake Business Association, estimated about 40 volunteers turned out to help with the job.

"This is the ninth year we've done this," Bondi said. "The Moses Lake Business Association started this to help get ready for summer."

Bondi said the business association teamed up with Vision 2020 to make it a more comprehensive clean-up project.

Water trucks from Cenex Harvest States, Simplot, Wilbur-Ellis, Agrinomics, Baker Farms, and J & K Recycling weaved through downtown with volunteers trailing behind with hoses, towels, and garbage bags in hand.

"It's a lot of fun (to do this)," volunteer David Plate, of Moses Lake, said. "It's spring and we had such a rough winter."

Plate said it was an opportunity to spend the morning with his kids doing something for the city. 

"It makes downtown look nice," Plate said.

Reid Baker, of Moses Lake, who provided trucks with water tanks as well as his time said he has volunteered with the sidewalk cleaning project for years.

"Our church called and asked if we wanted to participate," Baker said.

Bondi said the only incentive for the volunteers was helping the community.

"We have the same people come every year to help beautify our downtown," Bondi said.

Bondi noted that Shilo Inn Suites, of Moses Lake, donated towels for the clean-up at the last minute.

"We use them to keep water out of the businesses," Bondi said. 

Towels are stuffed against the bottoms of doors before the exterior sidewalks are hosed down in an effort to keep the doorways dry.

"We are always in need of more towels," Bondi said.

More volunteers gathered at the Surf 'n Slide Water Park in Moses Lake later in the morning to continue the cleanup effort.

For more information about the organization, call 509-764-1745.