by Rachel Hunter
A total of 1146.4 pounds of trash was collected by volunteers during the Third Annual Trash Dash 5K, hosted last weekend by the St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau.
The 2023 Trash Dash 5K in Gouverneur was held on Earth Day (Saturday, April 22), and drew volunteers who are passionate about environmental stewardship. St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau Director Alexa Backus Chase said that the Trash Dash 5K served as a great opportunity to make a personal contribution to a cleaner environment in the local communities. “Our teens appreciate having service projects especially ones that are environmentally friendly and fosters civic pride,” she said. “This also creates connectedness with individuals of all ages who are coming together for a good cause.” Teens on the St. Lawrence County Youth Committee once again worked with the SLC Youth Bureau to make the annual Trash Dash 5K a success.
A total of 201.6 pounds of trash was collected along County Route 12 (Johnstown Street). Other locations included Potsdam (179.3 pounds), Ogdensburg (473.3 pounds), Rensselaer Falls (147.6 pounds) and Massena (144.6 pounds). The St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau is pleased with the turnout and the amount of trash picked alongside the county roadways because of this initiative. The totals smash the record set in previous years. In 2022, there were about 100 participants who collected about 821 pounds of trash. There is great hope for this event’s continued growth in the years to come.
Those in attendance in Gouverneur included: St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau Director Alexa Backus, St. Lawrence County Mental Health Service Coordinator Lindsay Best (who also serves as a St. Lawrence County Youth Advisory Board Member), GHS National Honor Society Advisor Marcy Tyler, and GHS National Honor Society members Caitlyn Storie, Kristen Burns, Abigail Bowman, Sylvia French, Gavin Davis, Llydia Blaine, Ivey Bulger, Kaden Wells. Community members Deanna Hughes and her daughter Katelyn also volunteered.
Each attendee throughout St. Lawrence County participating in the St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau sponsored 5K Trash Dash was given a hard hat, safety vest, garbage bags, gloves, etc., once they joined the event at their respective locations. In Gouverneur, a short safety briefing was held at Mills Park in Gouverneur in advance of the clean-up efforts. All were encouraged not to pick up anything that looked suspicious (i.e. hypodermic needles, batteries, bottles with dark liquid inside), and that the item in question would be flagged for further investigation by local law enforcement. The participants were urged to walk as far along the 5K route as they felt that they were able, before making the return trip to Mills Park.
GHS National Honor Society Advisor Marcy Tyler told the Gouverneur Tribune Press that while picking up trash along the route, various residents commented that they were so happy to see volunteers picking up trash to make our community look better, thanking the students and expressing sincere gratitude for helping to make a difference. “I think it's so important for our youth to contribute to our larger community – and these student volunteers genuinely felt that they were making a positive impact,” Mrs. Tyler said. “They absolutely had a new outlook on littering and taking care of our environment!”
Much gratitude was extended to all those who volunteered or contributed any service toward the Third Annual Trash Dash 5K. For more information about the St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau, follow the Facebook page or call 315-379-9464.