80 Blue Cross Blue Shield Employees Help Keep South Boston's Beaches the Cleanest Urban Beaches in America

On September 16th, Blue Cross Blue Shield held their 5th annual corporate-wide Service Day: One Community. One Blue where more than 3,000 BCBS employees participated in service projects across the state. 80 of those employees chose to spend their day helping the Department of Conservation and Recreation maintain the cleanest urban beach in America by removing 18 tons of trash, overgrown brush and debris!

The Blue Crew helped keep South Boston's beaches clean in partnership with the DCR and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay

Site coordinator, Amy Eve, led the efforts of the 80 Blue Cross Blue Shield employees in South Boston at Carson Beach, M Street Beach, K Street Beach and City Point in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay staff. The eight teams accomplished a great deal of work throughout the day from Pleasure Bay to the McCormack Bath House removing weeds and overgrowth, painting shade shelters, and sweeping sand back onto the beaches. 

Damien Sarafian of Bridgewater and Tim Staples of Dorchester help to sweep sand back onto Carson Beach

Tim Staples of Dorchester, who works in the Quincy BCBS office, chose this service day project because it resonated close to home with him. "I live in the area and jumped at the opportunity to help take care of my neighborhood."

Amanda Cummings and Hollie Alexander of Weymouth pulled weeds along Carson Beach. They have known each other since high school and chose to work with Save the Harbor for their Service Day so they could enjoy a day on the harbor! 

The Blue Crew's efforts were most apparent along the walk way around the Sugar Bowl. They worked incredibly hard to remove truckloads of brush and debris that had pilled up along the fence. After all was said and done the teams repainted 16 shade shelters, removed eight tons of organic material such as weeds and shrubs, collected 10 tons of trash and debris, and swept sand away from four beach accessible ramps and six sets of stairs. 

Anton Truong of Quincy worked hard to remove weeds near the McCormack Bath House, he also found a blue marble and has been entered into Save the Harbor and JetBlue's "Simply Marble-ous" Treasure Hunt! 

To find out more about the treasure hunt click here!

Bruce Berman, Director of Strategy, Communications and Programs at Save the Harbor was delighted to see how much the Blue Crew had accomplished in such a short amount of time. "We are glad to have Blue Cross Blue Shield as a partner for their day of service," he said. "We value their continued support and commitment to our community and mission to protect the Boston Harbor and its surrounding beaches. When government, nonprofits and responsible corporate partners come together we can accomplish a lot for our communities."

The Blue Crew pulling weeds near Mother's Rest

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Blue Cross Blue Shield service day on the beaches of South Boston. All of us from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the Department of Conservation and Recreation appreciate your hard work.