HARLINGEN — Some of the equipment was so good, the young volunteers wished they could take it home.
Instead, volunteers from Marine Military Academy and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harlingen loaded DVD players, televisions and other equipment into a truck.
“Some of it’s still on,” said Cadet Lance Cpl. Max Fortin, 14, referring to some electronics equipment which was still running.
Fortin was one of 15 students from MMA who came for the City of Harlingen’s Trash-Off Day yesterday. Keep Harlingen Beautiful and the city’s Code Enforcement Division were partnering for their cleanups.
Cars pulled up at the collection point in the large Casa de Amistad parking lot at 1204 Fair Park Blvd. They dropped off discarded materials for Keep Harlingen Beautiful and electronics equipment for the Code Enforcement Division.
“We are collecting electronics equipment,” said Jose M. Aceves, co-officer for the city’s Code Enforcement Division.
Keep Harlingen Beautiful was collecting trash and tires. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to keeping the city beautiful and recycling discarded materials.
Melissa Boykin, executive director, said the event serves several purposes.
“It’s an opportunity for the citizens of Harlingen to get rid of junk and debris they have on their property,” she said. “They can bring anything except brush and liquid such as oil. This is the first time we’ve joined forces with Code Enforcement.”
Across the parking lot, several stout MMA cadets in bright yellow shirts waited next to stacks of discarded tires.
Boykin and Aceves talked about the benefits of dropping off tires for free, a service usually requiring a fee. The city’s landfill also charges a fee for dropping off the trash being collected yesterday by the Trash-Off.
Suddenly Joe Cantu pulled up in his car and the young volunteers took quick action, lifting tapes, tires and a television.
“I’m getting rid of a lot of stuff that was there in the backyard,” said Cantu, 86. “It’s great. I was taking it to the landfill.”
The MMA students seemed to be enjoying the experience.
“I’ve never done this before,” said Pvt. Chikem Umeorah, 16. “We’re getting a lot of stuff that’s still working. Some of it you can still use. I wouldn’t mind getting a TV.”
The kids from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Harlingen were also enjoying the volunteer experience.
“It’s fun helping everybody out,” said Tristian Martinez, 12. “We’re cleaning the garages and helping the environment.”
