Courtesy Photo Beach cleanup station diagram provided by Meag Schwartz, president and founder of Great Lakes Great Responsibility. Schwartz said the nonprofit will work with Presque Isle youth to choose locations for these stations.

ALPENA — Great Lakes Great Responsibility, a nonprofit based in Alpena and dedicated to keeping the Great Lakes clean, was recently awarded $2,500 for the Shoreline Stewards: Youth-Driven Beach Cleanup Stations.

This grant was awarded by the Northeast Michigan Youth Advisory Council (NEMYAC).

Meag Schwartz, president and founder of Great Lakes Great Responsibility, explained that this grant money will fund new self-serve beach cleanup stations that will be placed at popular beach locations in Presque Isle County. These stations will provide the public with buckets, which can be used to pick up litter.

“Pollution in the Great Lakes affects everything from drinking water quality to local economies and recreation,” Schwartz said. “By installing cleanup stations and encouraging stewardship, we ensure that these waters remain a source of life, connection, and sustainability for generations to come.”

Schwartz noted that the cleanup stations will also include a sign as to how individuals can use the stations and why the station is important. Schwartz also said that the self-serve cleanup stations are part of an outreach and awareness campaign for Great Lakes Great Responsibility to advocate for Great Lakes conservation.

“Great Lakes beach cleanup stations are vital because they empower communities to take direct action in protecting our freshwater resources,” Schwartz said. “As Michiganders, we are the keepers of our freshwater, which is an international asset, and we have an inherent responsibility to safeguard these lakes — not only for the countless aquatic species that depend on clean water to survive but also for our own health and well-being.”

Not only will this grant provide self-serve cleanup stations at popular beach locations in Presque Isle, but Great Lakes Great Responsibility will work with the youth of Presque Isle County to determine which locations these stations should be placed.

Schwartz explained that in the spring or the fall, Great Lakes Great Responsibility will scope out possible locations with youth to ensure that they are part of the process.

Schwartz also noted that it will be important that Great Lakes Great Responsibility has conversations with land stewards and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) before locations are picked.

According to Schwartz, Great Lakes Great Responsibility has a year from March to complete the project, per the grant requirements. All together, Schwartz is expecting two to three stations to be installed.

Looking to the future, Schwartz would like to plan for an unveiling ceremony when the stations are installed. Schwartz said this would likely happen in the fall following the initial installation of the self-serve stations so that the youth of Presque Isle County can participate.

Schwartz explained that the beach cleanup stations are part of a Great Lakes Great Responsibility initiative to clean up one million pieces of trash from the Great Lakes and surrounding areas.

According to Great Lakes Great Responsibility, picking up trash while walking in your neighborhood, while hiking, or while at a beach can prevent debris from entering the Great Lakes. If you are in the Great Lakes Basin area, Great Lakes Great Responsibility would like you to report your “trash data” to their website to contribute to their initiative.

As part of this #GreatLakes1Million project, Great Lakes Great Responsibility encourages participants to snap a photo and use #GreatLakes1Million on social media to spread the word.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.