Students at Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes began their five-day mission to clean up the base’s beachfront area April 27. 

Organized by Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) Sailors, over 20 volunteers started the process that will provide beachgoers a clean recreational area. Through to Friday volunteers will meet at the galley at 7:45 a.m. to make the trek to continue their work.

"Events like these bring everyone a little closer together," said Gunner’s Mate Seaman Andrew Hernandezgarcia, president of TSC’s CSADD student organization. "All the volunteers coming out today and who are planning to help during the week shows that there are all kinds of people who care about environmental stewardship and will offer assistance.”

On the first day more than 10 large bags of garbage were collected to include; plastic and glass bottles, wood debris, Styrofoam pieces and other rubbish along the shoreline.

"This feels great. We are doing something for the environment by working together to make sure we are keeping our beach clean," Hernandezgarcia said. "It feels good to give a little back; we are privileged to have this beach and we want to make sure we keep it this way."

CSADD Sailors have a long history of doing their part to help improve the environment including their multi-year partnership with community volunteers in Independence Grove Forest Preserve where they work to maintain the forest and its natural beauty by clearing out invasive species of plants and replacing them with trees and plants native to northern Illinois.

"The award winning Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions Great Lakes Chapter did a wonderful job organizing the beach cleanup," said TSC Command Master Chief Randy Reid. "All the volunteers are doing great work keeping the shore and tree line free of trash. I am very proud of the work our Sailors continue to do every day."

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