News Photo by Maxwell Olmstead Meag Schwartz, founder of Great Lakes Great Responsibility, examines a jar of water with microplastics on Monday. Great Lakes Great Responsibility is a nonprofit organization that hosts beach cleanups in Northeast Michigan, among other things.

OSSINEKE — After a $2,000 donation on Monday, Meag Schwartz, founder of Great Lakes Great Responsibility, feels grateful.

The nonprofit has raised nearly $5,000 in just over a month.

“I’m grateful for the $5,000 right now,” Schwartz said. “We will have to see which partnerships will partner with us in 2025.

“I put a call to action on social media,” Schwartz continued, hoping to raise “$5,000 for the five Great Lakes.”

The money will be used for organized beach cleanups, mini-grant programs, and new beach cleanup self-service stations.

The nonprofit has an upcoming board retreat to specifically allocate the funds.

The mini-grant programs are reserved for similar organizations that need extra funds.

The self-service stations will allow people to scan on their phones the amount of trash that they picked up. The hope is to contribute to the Great Lakes One Million Challenge, where one million pieces of trash are removed from the Great Lakes.

Schwartz said that these stations are planned to be put at locations such as Starlite Beach in Alpena and the Alpena Small Boat Harbor, assuming permission is granted.

However, Schwartz is open to community input.

“We are looking for well-trafficked beaches where a lot of people go,” Schwartz said. “Wherever humans go, there is often going to be a lot of trash.”

The $2,000 donation Monday came from an anonymous donor from the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan.

Schwartz said that 25 donors have contributed to the $4,850 raised since December. Donors from across the Great Lakes region and Northeast Michigan have contributed.

Schwartz said that these donations affirm that Great Lakes stewardship looks like different things.

“So many people are about this and are willing to step up to the plate,” Schwartz said. “We are still looking for more businesses that believe in a cleaner Great Lakes region and are willing to help.”

This time of year is slow for the nonprofit, but Schwartz is excited for an action-packed season this year.

The board will meet Jan. 17 to 19 in Northeast Michigan, according to Schwartz.

“I feel excited to meet in person,” Schwartz said. “We get to brainstorm, visualize, and build relationships.”

Maxwell Olmstead can be reached at 989-358-5687 or molmstead@TheAlpenaNews.com.