Alpena Youth Hit 4,000-Piece Trash Cleanup Goal

When youth volunteers gathered at Sytek Park in Alpena last Friday, they weren't just picking up trash. They were completing a promise they made at the start of summer.

The Youth Volunteer Corps teamed up with Great Lakes Great Responsibility (GLGR) to collect 4,000 pieces of trash across Alpena throughout the summer. Seven cleanups later, spanning locations like Starlight Beach, McRae Park, and Mich-e-ke-wis Park, they hit their target.

Meag Schwartz, CEO of GLGR, confirmed the milestone adds to something even bigger. The organization is now approaching 730,000 pieces collected toward their regional goal of 1 million.

For young participants like Swaezalyn Heltsley, the motivation was simple. "I wanted to be part of the last Youth Volunteer Corps cleanup," she said. "I enjoy being outdoors and contributing to keeping the environment clean."

GLGR is a nonprofit based in Northeast Michigan that focuses on keeping marine debris out of Great Lakes waterways. By targeting high-traffic areas where trash could wash into connected waterways, the cleanups serve an immediate purpose while preventing long-term pollution.

The Ripple Effect

The summer series represents more than just debris removal. GLGR plans to expand their impact through a Great Lakes Friendly Restaurants program that helps local eateries reduce single-use plastics.

Future cleanups will also integrate community science, with volunteers collecting data for researchers at Michigan Technological University and Wayne State University. Young people picking up litter will simultaneously contribute to scientific research on Great Lakes pollution.

The approach combines immediate environmental wins with systemic change. Each piece of trash removed is one less item threatening wildlife, water quality, and the natural beauty that draws people to the Great Lakes.

The organization hopes to reach their 1 million piece goal before year's end. With summer's 4,000-piece contribution secured and momentum building, that target feels achievable.

What started as a summer project for young volunteers became a measurable victory for the Great Lakes, proving that consistent community action adds up to real environmental progress.