International Coastal Cleanup this weekend
Volunteers are needed for an international cleanup effort to rid Florida’s coastlines of litter, pollution and debris.
The Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation, comprised of former members of the local Pilot Club, will coordinate the Florida Coastal Cleanup this Saturday, Sept. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon with volunteers reporting to the parking lot of the Beach Elementary School at 2751 Oak Street, behind the Methodist Church and Library. Keep Lee Beautiful has sponsored this cleanup with the local organization for more than 20 years.
The Coastal Cleanup is the only cleanup where trash is collected and recorded. The data cards are then sent to the Ocean Conservancy where the information is used in the development of new environmental protection acts and change the behaviors that cause marine debris in the first place. The data cards are designed to have groups of four working together, three to collect litter and debris and one to record the findings. Latex gloves will be handed out, however some of the marine debris will be rough so please feel free to bring work gloves.
KLCB staff issued the following invitation to the cleanup. “Grocery bags … bottles … cigarette butts … wrappers and straws. They don’t fall from the sky; they fall from human hands. And what’s washed up on the shore is only a fraction of what ends up in the water.From PineIslandto Bonita Springs,KLCB leads thean astounding grassroots cleanup effort. Every year in September, more than1,000volunteers removethousands of pounds of trash from beaches and waterways all over the county.
Volunteers, residents and students should report to the above location for sign-in and receiving supplies. Trash should be returned to the dumpsters at the school. Each September, the trash is weighed and catalogued as to type of debris so that educators will know who to target for littering. Volunteers will be treated to water, soda, and pizza when they return their trash bags. Students from the Beach School will sign up for an Ice Cream Party held Monday during the last period of school.
The Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation is a local organizationdedicated to working cooperatively to improve the quality of life on
Fort Myers Beach and surrounding communities.
The Fort Myers Beach report sites are:
n Bowditch Point Regional Park – 50 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (Site Coordinator – Timberland Stores)?Located at the northern tip of Fort Myers Beach the park offers restroom facilities and iseasily accessible for the disabled. There are 75 parking spaces on a first come first serve basis. The site coordinator will have data cards and pencils, latex gloves, trash bags, water and soda and a limited supply of litter sticks and T-shirts. Lunch will be back at the check in site at approximately 11:30 to 11:45 a.m.
n Beach Elementary School – 2751 Oak Street, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (Site Coordinator – FMB Community Foundation)?This site offers plenty of parking and the volunteers spread out to cover all of Fort Myers Beach.The site coordinator will have data cards and pencils, latex gloves, trash bags, water and soda and a limited supply of litter sticks and T-shirts. Lunch will be back at the check in site at approximately 11:30 to 11:45 a.m.
n Mantanzas Pass Preserve (Check in will be at Fort Myers Beach Elementary – ask for Roger Clark)
Volunteers will meet at the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School to pick up supplies.Ask for Roger Clark as he will guide the volunteers through the Mantanzas Pass Preserve to collected litter and debris. Volunteers at this site need to be prepared to get wet and dirty.Please wear long pants and preferably a long sleeve shirt.?