Volunteers help clean up post, spend quality time with family

By Rob Schuette, Triad Staff

      A small, but hardy group of volunteers helped make the first Green Day event held June 3 at Fort McCoy a success. They collected more than 30 pounds of garbage, and, just as importantly, spent quality time together as a family and group, said David Blakeman.

Participants in the Family Focus Fun Passport Campaign Green Day event collect litter during a walk through the Fort McCoy cantonment area. (Photo by Betsy Kelsey)

      Blakeman, Fort McCoy Army Community Service (ACS) volunteer coordinator, said Green Day was a multifaceted benefit event. It provided individuals and families an opportunity to walk areas of Fort McCoy, enjoy the installation's natural beauty and collect litter.

      "ACS Family Focus used this event to kick off its summer Family Focus Fun Passport Campaign, with a positive opportunity to get involved," Blakeman said.

      Three families, one individual, and five ACS staff members participated in the event.  Participants were not assigned to any area but were given approximately 90 minutes and encouraged to walk the installation streets, talk, have family reflection time, and collect litter in the bags provided, he said. After the event, the participants returned to ACS to enjoy a picnic-type lunch and share their experiences with other participants. 

      Families benefited from the activity by working together to achieve a common goal and bonding together. Blakeman said Fort McCoy benefits by gaining a litter-free installation.

      The 10 participants contributed approximately 10.5 hours of shared family time, walked seven miles of installation roads, and collected 36 pounds of litter. The participants took away a lot of good memories, according to the after-action reports, Blakeman said.

      "My kids had such a great time.It's amazing how cleaning up garbage was a good, fun day!" said one parent. 

      Another parent said, "It was surprising how much litter there was once you start looking . it was definitely worth it."

      "With volunteers and more time and doing this more often, it would make a huge difference," said a parent from the third family attending. "My family had a good time attending Green Day at Fort McCoy. It was good time spent together, and (we got a) feeling that we were doing something worthwhile."

      Each family received 250 Family Focus Franks for attending the event. Franks can be redeemed for discounts at various McCoy Morale, Welfare and Recreation activities or events or at a year-end auction.

      Blakeman said ACS will offer several more Family Focus Fun Passport Campaign events throughout the summer. For more information about the Family Focus program or events, call ACS at (608) 388-3505, visit the MWR Web site at http://www.mccoymwr.com and click on Army Community Service or ACS School House or visit ACS at 2111 South 8th Ave.