News>Airmen support monthly clean-up around local community
Photos
Airman 1st Class Justin Levine, 374th Communications Squadron network administration technician, picks up a piece of trash along the sidewalk at Mizuho, Japan, Oct. 11, 2012. Every month, volunteers around base help the local community by picking up bottles, cans, cigarette butts and other assorted garbage along the walkways, roads and parking lots of Mizuho. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrea Salazar)
Master Sgt. Scott Hunkins, left, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels operation chief, and Airman 1st Class Joe Johnson, 374th Communications Squadron, right, collect trash around the local area of Mizuho, Japan, Oct. 11, 2012. The monthly clean-up gives Yokota Airmen a chance to get involved with the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrea Salazar)
Airmen from Yokota Air Base walk along the streets of Mizuho, Japan, to pick up trash during a monthly clean-up, Oct. 11, 2012. The clean-up efforts largely serve as a way to get Airmen into the community and meet their neighbors, putting a face to the Airmen of Yokota. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrea Salazar)
by Senior Airman Andrea Salazar
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
10/14/2012 - MIZUHO TOWN, Japan -- Volunteers from Yokota met up for the monthly Mizuho, Japan Clean-up hosted by the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron on Oct. 11, 2012.
Every month, about 11 volunteers from around base help the local community by picking up bottles, cans, cigarette butts and other assorted garbage along the walkways, roads and parking lots of Mizuho.
"It's not often I get to volunteer with the community, but I saw an e-mail sent out through the Yokota's First Four and decided to sign up," said Senior Airman Jacob Saceda, 374th Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Ground Equipment journeyman. "It felt rewarding to help out and hear 'arigato,' from a few Japanese locals as we were passing by."
Airmen involved in the event continue to support, keeping the streets of Mizuho clean and free of debris. The clean-up efforts largely serve as a way to get Airmen into the community and meet their neighbors, putting a face to the Airmen of Yokota.
After cleaning up, volunteers head over to the local recycling plant to sort out the collected trash. Since 2005, the 374 LRS has supported the monthly Mizuho Clean-up project with over 800 military members, collecting nearly 4,000 pounds of trash each year.
"The Mizuho cleanup is an excellent way for Yokota to partner with our local neighbors and make a positive impact on the environment," said Master Sgt. Scott Hunkins, 374th LRS Fuels Operations section chief. "We are also showing a presence to the motorists that drive by and hopefully make them think twice before throwing their garbage out along the roadway."
