“If you are not part of the solution, you are a part of the problem,” says Glenn Youngstedt, Coordinator of the Lincoln Township Volunteer Corps. “Twelve years ago, I noticed the fire hydrants in Lincoln Township were ugly and needed a paint job,” he says. Mentioning his observation to his friend Dick Stauffer, the Lincoln Township Supervisor, their conversation resulted in the suggestion that volunteers be recruited to paint, if the city would provide the materials. It was, naturally, also decided that Glenn would lead this group of volunteers.
Over the next eighteen months, the group rejuvenated 1100 fire hydrants, and the desire to improve other areas of their township grew. Exit 23 off of I-94 is a popular and busy junction, and the amount of trash it accumulates can be staggering. The Volunteer Corps knew something needed to be done, and the Adopt-A-Highway program through MDOT seemed like the perfect solution.
Since 1990, Adopt-A-Highway has cleared over one million bags of trash from Michigan’s highways, boulevard, business routes, and more. There is no fee to adopt a highway, and MDOT will provide all materials needed, such as bags and safety vests for participants.
Members of the Lincoln Township Volunteer Corps include town residents, Lakeshore K Club members, and Purdue alumni, but there is no limit on who can join. The only requirement is that individuals must be over the age of twelve, and a waiver/release form is signed. The Volunteer Corps has scheduled three highway clean up dates for 2022, and they are April 23rd, July 16th, and October 1st. Volunteers convene at the Township Hall at 8am for a mandatory safety briefing and distribution of vests and equipment.
“The I-94 exits are essentially our front doors into Lincoln Township, Stevensville, and St. Joseph,” Glenn says. “It’s really interesting to see what trash collects at the exits; way too many beer cans and liquor bottles, a lot of fast food packaging, vehicle parts, and water bottles. We are proud to have residents who care about the appearance of Exit 23. Other townships and cities should adopt exits in their communities.”
The people of Southwest Michigan take great pride in the place we call home, and this group sets a wonderful example of how we can all chip in to do our part. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Lincoln Township Hall at 269-429-1589, or visit lctberrien.org.
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM contributor
