Members of the Ocean County Corrections PBA 258 came to Lakewood on Tuesday to clean up and beautify historic Lake Carasaljo. The group spent hours clearing garbage, debris, and discarded items from one of the town’s most popular recreational spaces. This is the fourth year that the PBA, in conjunction with the National Chaplains Association (NCA), has arranged a clean-up of the lake. They were joined by Lakewood Shomrim and Lakewood Police.
The effort, organized and led by PBA 258 President Matthew Stillwell and State Delegate Rebecca Roth, was organized by PBA 258 as a way to “give back” to the community it already serves with distinction. Ms. Roth said, “Unlike other agencies, residents don’t see us on their streets and don’t know about what we do. We wanted to do something to give back to the community so that the community sees who we are. We wanted them to see the faces of the officers who work in the corrections department and we wanted to give back to Ocean County.”
Mayor Ray Coles addressed the volunteers and said, “It is beautiful to see folks coming out to do something for the community. The Corrections Officers play an integral role in Ocean County and are always willing to show how much they care about community life.”
Deputy Mayor Miller said, “I truly thank the corrections officers for coming out today. Lake Carasaljo is the crown jewel of the Lakewood community. The fact that you were willing to come down to beautify the lake for people to enjoy really shows that you care. Thank you for taking time out of your day and being partners with us.”
Michael from Wellpoint said that this type of activity is part of Wellpoint’s focus on community outreach, adding, “It is a privilege for us to be able to give back a little to the community.”
Dozens of bags of trash were hauled off during the clean-up, including interesting items. In the past, some of the strangest items found were a catalytic converter that had been dumped in the lake and an entire bicycle was found in the lake.
Corrections Officers related that they was touched by the many residents walking near the lake who stopped to warmly thank the group for what they were doing for the town.
The Community Affairs Bureau of the National Chaplains Association expressed their appreciation for the Department of Corrections, saying, “It is amazing to see that officials who work so hard throughout the year still find time to give back to local communities in other settings. This creates a strong bond and connection that is mutually beneficial to both the department and the community.”
