Manta Rays Clean Jax Beach, One Fin at a Time

FSCJ Volleyball had a day off from classes for the Veterans Day holiday but that did not keep them from stepping out in the community on Monday afternoon. The team suited up with trash bags, gloves, and an attitude of servant leadership and headed towards Jacksonville Beach after their team study hall. After identifying a location for home base, the team split up into groups of four to roam from Jax Beach Pier to up and down 1^st street. After a weekend full of festivities at the Seawalk Pavilion, there was plenty of trash to keep the team busy and their trash bags full. Much of the waste the team picked up was trapped amongst seaweed along the beach, caught in the bridge walks in the dunes, and along the parking lots around the pier.

The team hoped to make a positive difference and raise awareness in the community about the importantance of keeping the beach area litter-free.

"Plastic pollution is killing the life in our seas," said head coach Chelsea Hinck. "Everything that washes up on our shores is sad evidence of what's contaminating our oceans, with more being added to them every single day.

The voluntary team clean up event was about helping protect the marine animals, preserve natural environments, enhance the local community, and creates a safer environment for all.

"Although this was a voluntary activity in our community, beach cleaning has a lot in common with how we work together as a team," said Hinck. "Collaboration is a core value in our program so spending a day that the team had off from classes for a meaningful goal was a good exercise in our teamwork together. This is a community event that opens the eyes of the players to see how our environment is being treated and how we can make a difference whether voluntary or in our own time. I am very happy with how the girls came together to pick up trash that not only affects the animals but us as well. We filled 4 full trash bags in less than two hours and that is a win-win in making a difference!"

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