ANSBACH, Germany (March 26, 2015) -- The city of Ansbach hosts a city-wide clean-up day every spring, called the Ansbach Saubä(e)r, where several hundred volunteers contribute their time and effort to their community for a morning. Armed with work gloves and trash bags, ready to work, volunteers stepped out Saturday into the sunshine and cool temperatures to do their part.
The German-American friendship club Outreach-KONTAKT Franken participated for the second year, this time partnering with Ansbach Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers, the garrison's single Soldier organization.
Sgt. Dalal Ogla, the Ansbach BOSS president, promised to bring BOSS Soldiers to help when she heard about the event.
"We are always looking for opportunities to do some community service," said Ogla before the event. "We will be there."
The participants picked up trash around Barton Barracks, an Ansbach garrison installation on top of the Meinhardswinden hill in Ansbach and seat of the headquarters of U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach.
Sgt. 1st Class Bob Forsythe, founding member of Outreach-KONTAKT Franken, is already a veteran at the event.
"It is important for me to participate in the clean-up, because it is a chance for me to give back," said Forsythe. "I have been shown so much from the people in this community, that this is my way of showing my appreciation."
As in the previous year, the volunteers walked along the street and walkways in front of Barton Barracks and scoured the forest path running behind the post. Several trash bags were filled with the litter left behind by other people.
Another group of service members and civilians cleaned up areas around Urlas Housing, Obereichenbach and the backside of Katterbach Kaserne.
Nastasia Wanat, who organized the clean-up for the environmental division of the Directorate of Public Works, was pleased with the results.
"It was nice that so many people came out to help," said Wanat. "I think the nice weather had something to do with it."
The annual clean-up event has been hosted by the city since 1999. Every year clubs and associations come out as groups. There are also parents who want to teach their children about community service, and many unaffiliated citizens who participate, rain or shine.
Trash findings range from small items like bottles and cans to larger items like tires or bicycles. Members of the military community in Ansbach do their share every year and flock to the surroundings of their posts, removing trash that has accumulated within the past 12 months.
To learn more about the German-American friendship club and Ansbach BOSS, go to the "Related Links" section on this page. To learn more about the USAG Ansbach's efforts to recycle, reuse and reduce, visit "USAG Ansbach Recycling" and "USAG Ansbach Environmental Division" in the "Related Links" section on this page.
Related Links:
USAG Ansbach official blog site
USAG Ansbach official home page
USAG Ansbach Environmental Division
Franconian News: USAG Ansbach official news page
USAG Ansbach official Flickr page
USAG Ansbach official Twitter feed
Social Sharing