Kathrine Bohn and her five month old son Carter were seen among the troops of volunteers who cleared countless trash items accumulated along the streets of southwestern Chula Vista on Dec.4 during South Bay Sustainable Communtis last community clean up of the year.
As the secretary for South Bay Sustainable Communities Network (SBSC), a non-profit organization aimed to build healthy and sustainable communities, Bohn served as a leader in guiding community volunteers, many being high school students county-wide, through environmental cleanup efforts. As a mother to an infant, she assists in a smaller scale like picking up trash at the side of the road with Carter.
“The impact can be much larger when the youth comes out because you are starting for the next generation. When kids come out they typically come out in larger groups so you can get more done rather than individuals coming out and cleaning out,” Bohn said.
Approximately 50 people volunteered in the environmental clean up and targeted areas of concern such as Hollister St., Industrial Blvd. and the surrounding areas. In partnership with Republic Services, the nonprofit organization received a large trash bin for waste collection and furthered their outreach by educating Chula Vistans proper composting and waste management. This is a part of an initiative to prevent and divert food waste in landfills.
The organization additionally partnered with Caltrans in collecting waste that accumulates along highways through the Adopt-a-Highway program.
“I don't know if you realize but all of our off ramps are just awful so they are working in that as well in this area. We are trying to hit it from all of these angles and doing the best that we can to minimize and clean up our communities. We look forward to working with them throughout the year. We are actually working with crews on the highways to pick up litter too. We have to work a schedule ,”South Bay Sustainable Communities Network Founder and Executive Director Tina Matthias said.
A local business, Copy Link joined the group of community volunteers including students from Otay Ranch, Hilltop, Mar Vista and other high schools county wide to aid in clean up efforts. Participating students received community service hours in return.
“This is a nice little gathering. It's definitely worth doing. Also it’s nice for high school students to try and get community service hours. In boy scouts you have to do service projects and help the community which is very big,” Otay Ranch High School student Mario Prado said.
For Mar Vista High school sophomore Ashlyn Fox, participating in clean up events are more than just community service hours.
“It’s honestly a concern with what is happening in the community. There is a lot of trash accumulation. I feel like a lot of humans don't understand that not only are they hurting the animals but themselves as well,” Fox said.
The non-profit has conducted community clean ups throughout the pandemic. Over 150 people were in attendance in their last community clean up near the Chula Vista Marina. Volunteers are guided by leaders who guide, facilitate and ensure the group's safety. According to Matthias, the group has been able to expand.
The organization awaits approval to work with the city of San Diego for community clean ups near Second Avenue next month. According to Matthias, San Diego is all watershed, an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.
“It’s more than what we are just doing, but we are a part of the community. Being able to make a difference for something more than just for yourself,” SBSC volunteer and leader Stuart Trude said.
Members of the public can learn the benefits of worms eating food scraps in a Worm Compost 101 Workshop hosted by SBSC on Dec.12. at 10 a.m. Participants will go home with their own worm bin provided by the city of Chula Vista. Prospective participants are asked to RSVP by calling (619)738-4188 or email SBSustainableCommunities@gmail.com.
