MacDill helps keep Tampa Bay beautiful

Members from Team MacDill clean the base shoreline April 24, 2015, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. MacDill has been doing the Coastal Clean-up for the last 20 years; however, it wasn’t until last year that the base began hosting two events each year—one is September and one in April. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jenay Randolph/Released)

MacDill helps keep Tampa Bay beautiful

Approximately 50 volunteers from Team MacDill pose for a group photo before tackling the shoreline for the Coastal Clean-up at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., April 24, 2015. Volunteers were broken up into four groups to clean-up approximately three miles of shoreline from the Thermal Image Radar facility near Eagle Park to the western end of the base beach. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jenay Randolph/Released)

MacDill helps keep Tampa Bay beautiful

A volunteer from Team MacDill picks up trash along the shoreline during the Coastal Clean-up April 24, 2015, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. MacDill has been doing the Coastal Clean-up for the last 20 years; however, it wasn’t until last year that the base began hosting two events each year - one is September and one in April. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jenay Randolph/Released)

MacDill helps keep Tampa Bay beautiful

Members from Team MacDill pick up trash along the base shoreline April 24, 2015, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. Volunteers spent nearly three hours cleaning up approximately three miles of shoreline from the Thermal Image Radar facility near Eagle Park to the western end of the base beach. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jenay Randolph/Released)

MacDill helps keep Tampa Bay beautiful

Published April 27, 2015
By Senior Airman Jenay Randolph
6th Air Mobility Wing public affairs

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Members of Team MacDill tackle approximately three miles of base shoreline to contribute to keeping Tampa Bay beautiful April 24, 2015, at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

"For the past 20 years, MacDill has been hosting an annual coastal clean-up, which allows service members to volunteer roughly three hours of their day to pick up trash along the shoreline," stated Jason Kirkpatrick, 6th Civil Engineer Squadron natural resources program manager. "In 2014, MacDill decided to contribute more and host two clean-ups a year, in April and September."

The event coincides with the Great American Clean-up and Hillsborough County Clean-up events that are hosted by Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, with whom MacDill partners with for each event.

There were approximately 50 volunteers that came out to partake in the clean-up this year, and over 30 bags of trash, litter and debris were collected.

On average, each bag was estimated at a weight of 20 pounds, which amounts to over 600 pounds of trash being removed from the coastline. Along with the trash, four bags of recyclable material were diverted from the waste stream, amounting to an estimated 10 pounds.

"I feel good knowing that I did my part to clean up the bay," expressed Master Sgt. Jason Cooley, 373rd Training Squadron detachment chief. "My goal is to set a positive example for my children. I want them to know why it is important to take care of our shoreline and encourage them to be a part of these types of events."

In total, 2.8 miles of shoreline were cleaned, from the Thermal Image Radar facility near Eagle Park to the western end of the base beach.

"The Coastal clean-up event was a success and I commend each group that came out and participated in keeping our shoreline beautiful," expressed Kirkpatrick.