Armed with gloves, trash bags and shovels, young people worked to beautify Bensonhurst sidewalks Friday.

"Keeping the whole street clean, not just your house, is also important," said one young person.

Many trash cans are located along 86th Street, but just as much trash litters the sidewalks. The garbage includes old televisions, moldy bread, paper and food.

Community leaders organized the cleanup, with young people leading the crews. The cleanups are organized three times a year. Organizers know that the trash will come back, but that isn't the point.

"With the kids here doing this and with the neighborhood seeing, 'Oh, wow. This is such a nice, beautiful place. I don't want to mess it up,'" said Nancy Tong, the Democratic leader for State Assembly District 47. 

She hopes that just holding a cleanup event will set an example for people who litter.