Volunteers needed to keep base green and clean

  • Published
  • By Jenny Gordon
  • Robins Public Affairs
The Robins Pride program needs your help to assist in keeping our base community clean and green all year long. 

Organizations can adopt a specific public area for such duties as picking up fallen limbs, raking leaves, picking up trash and emptying receptacles along roadways and trails; weed-eating and pruning bushes; cleaning signs, memorial plaques and benches; and performing minor repairs like sprucing up signs     on nature trails.

"In my view, we should celebrate Earth Day every day, not just on April 22. The organizations who have jumped into Robins Pride with both feet exhibit that motto every time they spend 30 minutes removing trash from ditches and pond margins," said Bob Sargent, Robins' natural resources manager and wildlife biologist. "Getting involved in activities like this broadens our ecological sensitivity. It reminds us that if we are conscientious about taking care of our environment, then our environment will take care of us."

Groups can choose to get together to perform clean-up activities once per month, quarterly or as a Wingman event. Areas in need of sponsors include sections along Ga. Highway 247 and Hannah Road.           

Various groups have been involved over the years.

Some of those groups are: Robins Top 3, Boy Scout Troop No. 220 and the 78th Medical Support Squadron.

Those groups have collectively adopted Duck, Scout and Luna lakes; Friendship and Robins parks; the Camellia Garden; King Cemetery; and Tree Frog and Duck Lake trails. 

One loyal volunteer is Lt. Col. Janet Urbanski, 78th Medical Support Squadron commander, who recently enjoyed a day in the outdoors with her family.

"We enjoy participating in outdoor activities wherever we're stationed, and Central Georgia is no exception," she said. "We started picking up trash when we kayak because we want to give back to the community and help preserve the waterways for future generations."

All are welcome, including military members, as well as civilians with proper prior approvals from a supervisor.  

Editor's note: If you'd like to adopt an area of the base still in need of regular clean-up, please call Bob Sargent at 497-3974 or email him at robert.sargent@us.af.mil.