Great Lakes Great Responsibility hosts cleanup in Downtown Alpena

ALPENA, Mich.- One local organization is starting a spring cleanup in the community one step at a time.

“With great power, comes great responsibility,” said organization founder Meag Schwartz.

Great lakes great responsibility, Schwartz said her love for the environment around her inspired the founding of the organization.

“The mission of mission of Great Lakes Great Responsibility is to really empower and inspire other people to take action on behalf of the great lakes.”

Schwartz, an Alpena native said last weekend while out she noticed downtown needed a little sprucing up.

“I saw quite a bit of trash accumulating in the ditches and gutters knew it was going to get warm this week, and all of that would melt and go down the drain,” said Schwartz.

So, she did what any advocate for her community would do– host a spur of the moment clean up.

“I just put an event on Facebook Saturday and 17 people showed up.”

Collecting trash and other items to make sure the areas drinking water and wildlife stay safe.

As the weather warms up, there will be more events for residents to do their part to keep our water viable.

“It’s up to us to be responsible for their care,” said Schwartz.

Saturday volunteers picked up over 4,300 hundred pieces of trash in just 45 minutes.

Schwartz said that you can look out for more trash pick up events especially around Earth Day in April.