Ring in the New Year by participating in a “Coastal Clean-up” along Fort Myers Beach.
A New Year coastal cleanup will be held at the Diversified Yacht Services on Fort Myers Beach Saturday, Jan. 2.
The Diversified Yacht Services is donating the use of its property and boats for the cleanup. Volunteers will be collecting trash along the coast by boat.
Organizations work to continue lowering the amount of trash left on beaches and roads.
“Up to about the 70’s it was common to see trash on the roadside and even to see people toss soda cans and cigarette butts out of a car window,” said Jim Griffiths of the coastal cleanup. “Today it’s still there but a lot less.”
Besides the cleanup, the event will also be providing lunch, donated by Jet’s Pizza in Cape Coral. Raffles will also be given out after the event. Local restaurants and fishing supply stores have donated items for the prizes.
According to the coastal cleanup flyer, “By boat or kayak, look for trash floating along the shoreline, on the beach, anywhere you can find it by water.”
The event will be hosted by Lee County’s Fish36, a locally owned 501(c)(3) hosted by Fort Myers Marine and the Nautical Mile. The organization raises money annually through events and sponsorships to fund activities in the local marine community.
The cleanup will run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
“Our nation has become much more pollution aware, and events like this create that needed awareness, plus provides an opportunity for us all to teach kids not to litter,” Griffiths said.