A community-wide graffiti cleanup day in and around Kalispell is scheduled for Saturday, July 14, Kalispell City Council member Phil Guiffrida III said.

Guiffrida spearheaded and organized the volunteer cleanup effort over the last two weeks, hoping to target what he sees as a growing problem in the city with new reports of graffiti coming in sometimes daily and usually at least weekly.

The effort will be hosted by Kalispell City Council members and Flathead County commissioners and is open to any volunteers who want to come help clean up graffiti.

Volunteers with gather at Penco Power Products at 2310 U.S. 93 South at 9 a.m. They then will break into cleanup crews and head out to a variety of locations where graffiti needs to be removed in Kalispell and surrounding areas.

A volunteer appreciation barbecue provided by Penco Power Products is scheduled for 1 p.m. During the barbecue, community leaders and authorities will provide information on how to combat graffiti problems, Guiffrida said.

The cleanup effort is being supported by Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nasset. “People are just absolutely fed up with the graffiti and willing to come together to take action,” he said.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.