Youth volunteers help reach 4,000-piece trash goal in Alpena
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ALPENA -- Members of the Youth Volunteer Corps and Great Lakes Great Responsibility (GLGR) completed a summerlong cleanup series Friday at Sytek Park, meeting a goal of collecting 4,000 pieces of trash across Alpena.
Meag Schwartz, CEO of GLGR, confirmed the target was achieved.
"Yes, the goal of 4,000 pieces was met. We're adding that to our larger 1,000,000-piece goal. We are approaching 730,000 total," Schwartz said.
Before the Sytek Park event began, organizers had already removed 3,099 pieces of debris from earlier cleanups this summer. Schwartz had expressed confidence that volunteers would collect the remaining 901 pieces needed. The final tally pushed the local total to the 4,000-piece mark and contributed to the organization's broader regional effort.
"We have been doing a cleanup series with the Youth Volunteer Corps all summer. This is our seventh cleanup," Schwartz said prior to the event. "Our larger goal is to pick up 4,000 pieces of trash, and we have been doing cleanups all over Alpena, including Mich-e-ke-wis Park, Starlight Beach, McRae Park, and the cemetery."
GLGR is a nonprofit based in Northeast Michigan that serves the Great Lakes Basin. Its mission focuses on marine debris prevention and removal through cleanups held both locally and across the region.
"We are all about marine debris prevention and removal, so we host a lot of cleanups locally and across the basin," Schwartz said.
The 4,000-piece total from the Alpena series is now being counted toward the organization's larger goal of removing 1 million pieces of trash. There is no specific timeframe set for reaching that figure, though organizers are hopeful it can be achieved before the end of the year.
Looking ahead, the group plans to expand beyond traditional cleanups. Schwartz said future initiatives will include working with restaurants to reduce single-use plastics through a program called Great Lakes Friendly Restaurants. The organization also intends to integrate community science into its events by collecting data for researchers at Michigan Technological University and Wayne State University, allowing volunteers to contribute to scientific research while removing litter.
One of the youth participants, Swaezalyn Heltsley, said she joined because it was the final Youth Volunteer Corps cleanup of the summer.
"I wanted to be part of the last Youth Volunteer Corps cleanup, so my mom signed me up," Heltsley said. "I enjoy being outdoors and contributing to keeping the environment clean."
The series of cleanups targeted parks, beaches, and other public spaces in Alpena throughout the summer. By focusing on high-traffic areas, organizers sought to reduce the amount of trash that could enter waterways connected to the Great Lakes. The Friday event at Sytek Park brought together young volunteers and the nonprofit for a coordinated effort that ultimately helped secure the seasonal goal.
Schwartz has emphasized that the work serves both immediate and long-term purposes. Removing debris prevents it from becoming marine pollution, while planned partnerships and data collection aim to address the sources of that pollution and support ongoing research on the Great Lakes. The combination of youth involvement, repeated community cleanups, and expanding programs reflects the organization's approach to protecting the region's waterways.
Heltsley's participation highlighted the role younger volunteers continue to play. Her interest in outdoor activity and environmental stewardship mirrors the motivation of many who joined the series this summer. With the 4,000-piece target now met and the cumulative regional total approaching 730,000, the Sytek Park cleanup marked a concrete step forward in the larger effort to reach 1 million pieces removed.
Josh Jambor can be reached at jjambor@thealpenanews.com.