By: Alyssa Bice
Jacksonville is a community centered around the coastline. Beaches Go Green is a non-profit working to connect the community through raising environmental awareness and preservation by protecting our shores. When the organization first began, it primarily focused on plastic pollution, but the message wasn’t getting enough reach.
“We decided to share why it’s so important,” said Morgan Eaton, Programs Director of Beaches Go Green.
“Personal health and planetary health are so connected. All these environmental toxins that we come in contact with every day are making such a huge impact on our bodies as well as the planet,”—Eaton said.
The nonprofit organization often hosts panel discussions in partnership with other environmental organizations to raise awareness of ongoing environmental challenges and volunteer opportunities.
“Our number one goal is to share awareness,” said Eaton. “Sharing our social media posts, by visiting our website, using the handouts or guides we offer, and coming to any of our free local events, is a great way to participate.”
Beaches Go Green’s main focus is hosting community events to spread awareness and support the cleanup and preservation of wildlife and local biomes.
“We are already seeing the long-term effects, with all of the plastic in the oceans and the microplastics that are taking over our lives and that are in everything,” said Shelby Berendt, Director of Community Outreach of Beaches Go Green. “If people aren’t aware of these things, they don’t know to reduce their use, [and] things will continue to get worse. Education is the most important thing in awareness, so people can make changes and protect themselves.”