Many University of Maryland business groups, along with those just looking to help out, gathered on a Friday afternoon to clean trash from the Paint Branch stream that separates the view from Lot 11.
The Society for Green Business, Phi Chi Theta, the Anacostia Watershed Society, Supply Chain Management Society and recruits from Unilever all came together to make a difference within the community.
“It’s a great opportunity to network and help make our campus a better place,” said Brandon Carerra, a member of Phi Chi Theta.
Students and working professionals walked the perimeter of the stream with big black trash bags and any gloves they could find. Rubber gloves, garden gloves, even knit snow gloves were all used to lift the bottle caps, bicycle parts and glass pieces from the watershed.
“It’s our first time here,” said Dipti Badrinath, Secretary of Phi Chi Theta.
Many students commented on how they didn’t see trash cans anywhere around the stream, as they picked up beer cans, a lot of food wrappers, a wine bottles and even a fire extinguisher.
The event was open to anyone who was willing to help out. Carerra sent out invitations through his classes’ e-mal listserv, including his plant science class where he thought people may be of interest.
The Anacostia Watershed Society also posted it on their website for kids to see. The Paint Branch stream is “a tributary of the Northeast Branch of the Anacostia River that’s an integral part of our local watershed,” as stated on their website.
“We help organize events like this all the time,” said Maddie Kownig, volunteer coordinator for AWS.
AWS clean-ups try to be educative, while making a difference.
“AWS staff will talk about our watershed, about the history and the natural history of the area, and will be sure to point out interesting native plants and animals,” as stated on their website.
Some students were confused about the large amount of wood pieces and rubber bands found along the stream.
“They put stabilizers on [new] trees and then they don’t have enough funding or man power to maintain them,” Kownig said.
Recruiters from Unilever also lent a hand. Unilever is a global consumer good company that makes brands like Dove, Axe and Lipton, according to Lisa Makar, a University of Maryland alumna and a member of the recruiting team.
“Aside from the environmental benefits it’s nice to loop in,” said Eric Kwok, another member of the Unilever recruiting team.
“We’re not very removed from college,” Makar said. At events like these the recruits have had many conversations about “things we went through a year or two ago.”
By approximately 4 p.m., the stream was mostly rid of debris, except for the harder to reach places like under the bridge, according to Carerra who took it upon himself to clean those areas.
“Our vice president, Kevin Cencula, worked really hard to put this together,” said Carerra. “I think it really paid off.”