SWAT's International Coastal Cleanup Day
By Regan Faherty
Trash bags in hand, Melbourne High School SWAT members were ready to participate in International Coastal Cleanup Day. SWAT is an organization that informs and promotes the harmful effects of tobacco to their peers and volunteers in the community through activities such as beach cleanups. Senior, Riley Blum, explained who was involved with the planning. “For International Coastal Cleanup Day, MHS SWAT, Eau Gallie SWAT, Brevard SWAT, and Tobacco-Free Brevard all came together to organize a community beach cleanup at Hightower Beach Park,” said Blum.
The event began at 9 a.m., but despite the early wake-up call,“the turnout was more than expected because a lot of the community members attended. It was great to see so many people making a difference,” said Blum. The organization plans numerous beach cleanups throughout the year because, as Blum explained, “SWAT does the beach cleanups often because tobacco is one of the most polluted items in the world, and we want to keep our local parks and beaches free of litter.”
“I enjoyed participating in SWAT’s beach cleanups because it’s a way to give back to our community, spread SWAT’s message, and have fun with my friends,” said Blum. Beachgoers even joined in, and the SWAT members welcomed people who were at the beach to participate while promoting all the different organizations. The local Cub Scout troop also joined in, giving future generations a chance to learn about the negative effects of tobacco use.