11th Annual GA-FL Weekend Community Beach Sweep
East Beach at the Old Coast Guard Station First Street, Saint Simons Island, Georgia
Organizers of the 11th annual “GA/FL Football Weekend Community Beach Sweep” are seeking volunteers to help with the community litter removal endeavor. On the morning of Saturday, October 27th, community members and volunteers will assist officials in removing St. Simons Island beach litter left behind by pre-game merriment. Each year on the day before the annual Georgia/Florida football game, 8,000+ football fans gather in a small area on St. Simons Island’s East Beach. Waste left behind such as foam coolers, beverage cans and bottles can easily end up in the ocean and become a threat to marine life without intense cleanup efforts.
Students and football fans enjoying the St. Simons beaches are encouraged to “stash their trash” in the provided beach trash and recycling containers and to refrain from using plastic foam and glass products.“Relocating the Friday football beach gathering down to the old Coast Guard Station beach has greatly helped with day-of trash removal,” said Lea King-Badyna, executive director of Keep Golden Isles Beautiful. “But the game day Community Beach Sweep is still necessary to remove any remaining beach litter. Again this year we will especially focus on the tiny bits of plastic, plastic foam and cigarette butts left behind.”
Volunteers are asked to meet at 7:30 am on October 27th at the old Coast Guard Station beach entrance boardwalk. Trash bags and gloves will be provided on site by Keep Golden Isles Beautiful and actual volunteer work time is anticipated at one hour. “On this high-volume weekend, fans, civic clubs, church groups, youth groups, businesses and individuals are all invited and encouraged to come out and help keep our Georgia beaches litter-free,” said King-Badyna. “This is an opportunity for community members to assist our County government, make a big difference in our own back yard, and help keep our coast healthy.”
The 2018 community beach sweep initiative is organized by Keep Golden Isles Beautiful in partnership with Glynn County government, UGA Marine Extension & Georgia Sea Grant, UGA Public Service & Outreach, GA/DNR Coastal Resources Division, Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau, Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce and its St. Simons/Sea Island Council, College of Coastal Georgia and GreenScene of Coastal Georgia.
For more information or to participate, please contact Keep Golden Isles Beautiful at info.kbgib@gmail.com or 912.279.1490. Be a part of some good “clean” fun!
