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Adopt-a-Street comes to Shaw

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amber E. N. Jacobs
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Shaw kicked off an Adopt-a-Street program here March 26.

The Adopt-a-Street program allows private organizations throughout Team Shaw the opportunity to give back to the installation in an effort to reduce unnecessary manpower on details that take away from the mission, while instilling a sense of pride within the base community.

"This is a program for private organizations and it is not affiliated with the wing," explained Chief Master Sgt. Suzanne Talbert, 20th Mission Support Group superintendent. "It allows our private organizations who are already proud to be a part of Shaw another avenue to demonstrate their pride and at the same time to help us keep the base clean."

Private organizations will not only be able to adopt a street, but they can also choose to sign up for different areas around the base.

Memorial Lake and the running paths are not necessarily streets, but areas like those can be adopted, Talbert added. When an organization adopts a street or an area they will be required to follow the basic rules that are already in line with the Adopt-a-Highway program, which allows a unit to sponsor city roads and streets in an effort to keep them free of trash and debris.

The private organizations will be required to rally volunteers during off-duty hours only to participate in a clean-up. There is no expectation of mowing, trimming or planting, just simply walking the area to remove debris, Talbert explained.

Some of our main clubs have already stepped-up to be a part of this campaign, she added. Shaw Top 3 has adopted Shaw Drive (Main Gate to Chapel Circle); Shaw 5/6 has adopted Mitchell Drive to Nightingale Street up to Rhodes Avenue (in front of Carolina Pines Lodging and the Carolina Skies Club and Conference Center); Rising IV has adopted the roads surrounding the dorms, Polifka Drive & Johnson Street and Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 377 has adopted the streets that run along Memorial Lake to include the children's park and the lake.

"This is such an awesome project for our folks to get involved in," said Senior Master Sgt. Frank Graziano, AFSA Chapter 377 president. "It's as simple as picking up a piece of paper that is lying on the ground. It instills pride when you walk on to an installation and you know that you've helped to make it better. With the amount of people who are part of Team Shaw, if they came out and spent five minutes cleaning up one little area, this base would be immaculate at all times."

Any private organization or booster club interested in adopting a street or area can contact Talbert at 895-2921 or by email at Suzanne.talbert@shaw.af.mil.