Students IDing Invasive Plants, Removing Litter at McKay Bay Nature Park & TraiLearn & Serve Tampa, The Mission Continues, Tampa Parks & Recreation, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, and other organizations join forces for Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
In honor of the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, a group of dedicated local volunteers, including Learn and Serve Tampa, The Mission Continues, Mayor Jane Castor, Tampa Parks & Recreation staff, and volunteers will come together on Saturday, January 14, 2023, to participate in a service project at McKay Bay Nature Park & Trail, helping clean the park and identify invasive plants.
This event is hosted by Learn and Serve Tampa and The Mission Continues, in partnership with Tampa Parks & Recreation, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful and Workscapes. This event is funded through a grant provided by Youth Service America (YSA) and AmeriCorps, providing opportunities for service on all three National Days of Service.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with these organizations and so many dedicated volunteers to make a positive impact on our community," Mayor Jane Castor said. "Environmental justice is an important issue and everyone should have access to healthy and safe natural settings in urban parks. This event is a great opportunity for us to come together and make a difference."
AVID students who are learning about invasive species will be working alongside veteran volunteers to identify and tag for the removal of an invasive tree located throughout the park. This fulfills the Learn and Serve Inc goal of engaging K-12 students in service learning.
"This is a meaningful way for us to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and give back to our community," said Kristy C. Verdi, who serves as Executive Director of Learn and Serve Tampa. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with such a dedicated group of volunteers and make a positive impact on the environment."
Events like these are part of Keep It Clean, Tampa! This is a joint initiative by Mayor Jane Castor, Tampa City Council, and multiple City of Tampa departments to educate residents on the impacts litter can have on our community and how to get involved in keeping our beautiful city clean.
Learn more at https://www.tampa.gov/mayor/keep-it-clean