St. Johns County's beaches have a little less trash and a lot more hope for the turtles today. The 22nd Annual Turtletown USA Beach Cleanup took place on May 10, seeing 250 volunteers come together to rid the beaches of over 850 pounds of refuse, all in preparation for the critically important sea turtle nesting season. The St. Johns County Office of Public Affairs stepped up its game, producing a video to showcase the day's labors and highlight the community's involvement.
As part of St. Johns County’s wider Get Hooked Anti-Litter Initiative, this annual event brought together volunteers across eight different locations. “We had a great turnout this year with over 250 volunteers across 8 different locations,” said Matthew Denny, Digital Media Manager for St. Johns County and this year’s event organizer, in a statement obtained from the St. Johns County Office of Public Affairs. A variety of county departments and local organizations joined the cleanup, highlighting a growing local commitment to environmental stewardship and protecting the area’s natural resources.
Since January 2024, the Anti-Litter Initiative has been a platform for change, successfully hosting six events that have accumulated over 5,690 pounds of garbage removed by the hands of 1,308 volunteers. Their efforts represent a cumulative 3,263 hours of service, all in the name of conserving the local landscape and wildlife habitats. “We are not only getting hooked, we’re getting results,” Denny told the St. Johns County Office of Public Affairs.
Indeed, the stakes are high for local wildlife. Michelle Schenck, Park Services Specialist with Anastasia State Park, echoed the importance of the initiative, particularly for the vulnerable sea turtle population. "Removing any litter or trash that could be on the beach is very important for these mothers coming up,” said Schenck, according to a St. Johns County Office of Public Affairs interview. Rich Gallik, President of the Friends of Anastasia State Park, reminded beach-goers to fill up any holes they make to prevent hatchlings from getting trapped.
