A local group recently visited Hammond Marina Beach, but they weren’t there to swim in Lake Michigan or set up a picnic.
They were serving as volunteers for the Alliance for the Great Lakes annual beach cleanup.
“We keep track of what we find — every little piece — it all adds up,” said Jo Ann Gorman, as she tallied the items on a large clipboard. “The Alliance uses this data for statistical purposes.”
Certainly the most unique item found was a baby bottle with a note, according to Jerry Torres from Our Lady of Perpetual Help, co-leader of the event.
“There was a heart-tugging letter inside the bottle. As far as we can tell, it looks like it’s from a mother and a father who gave their baby up for adoption,” Torres said. “From what I read, the letter seemed to be a catharsis, especially for the mother. I would hope writing those letters gave them some peace.”
More than a dozen helpers from the League of Women Voters and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church of Hammond spent the morning walking the half mile of Lake Michigan shoreline, collecting debris.
Their finds were categorized, such as fishing supplies or personal care products.
“I just found a rubber snake. It looked so real, it was scary,” Our Lady of Perpetual Help volunteer Anna Holguin said as she and fellow church member Teresa Nava worked their way down the beach.
“This event is important because we need to pay attention to what we’re finding on our beaches,” she said. “I wanted to volunteer today because I love the beach and want to help it stay clean.”
Norm Graham of Highland echoed those sentiments, adding, “I just want to do my part, and for the future generations.”
Our Lady of Perpetual Help member Mary Gutierrez spent the morning as one of the official clipboard volunteers, listing items her husband, Jim, was finding.
“People have no idea how much litter is on the beaches,” she said, as Jim used a long stick to uncover much of that litter. “We want to make an impact on the situation, that’s why we volunteered today.”
Torres, from Our Lady of Perpetual Help, said the church has volunteered for the initiative before both at the Hammond Marina and the East Chicago beach. He held up a small blue snow sled he found.
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“There’s always something interesting to uncover.”
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.