90 Volunteers Join TPF for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Dozens of Volunteers Join Timucuan Parks Foundation for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Jacksonville, Fla., Jan. 28, 2019 – Timucuan Parks Foundation hosted dozens of volunteers for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service volunteer project on Monday, Jan. 21 at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park. The nonprofit organization was joined by citizens from all over Jacksonville, including volunteers from Cub Scout Packs 278 and 286, Boy Scout Troops 37 and 40, Sandalwood High School’s Greenstate environmental club, Stanton’s National Honor Society, Landmark Middle School, FSCJ, REI, and others.

Many volunteers at 2019 MLK Day of Service braved 34 degree temperature at Hanna Park

The 90 volunteers, ranging in age from 6 to 60, worked diligently despite cold weather to remove invasive lantana and sword fern, trim bike trails, and collect trash. Hanna Park staff provided the service learning component, providing examples of common invasive plants and addressing hurricane impacts and the value of healthy ecosystems to mitigating those impacts.

“Not only do parks need help with restoration efforts, but TPF and the park partners also hope to raise awareness of the issues and outfit participants with information and the hands-on action tools they can take back to their own communities,” said Felicia Boyd, TPF program and outreach director.

This project was done in partnership with the City of Jacksonville. Partial funding was provided by REI, a National Parks Foundation and Outdoor Foundation Challenge Grant, and a Restoration and Resilience Grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kelly White, (904) 616-8754, [email protected]