The Hope for Today Foundation is walking the walk when it comes to cleaning up the community, and operations manager Brent Hydes said the public is welcome to join the effort.
The foundation, a transitional living programme focused on supporting people recovering from substance abuse, has been organising quarterly community clean-ups in West Bay.
Want to join?
The next clean-up being led by Hope for Today is scheduled for 29 June, and the public is invited to join. It begins at 6am at the West Bay Police Station. Organisers will provide garbage bags and refreshments.
Hydes told the Compass that the clean-ups have the double benefit of fostering a healthier environment and reinforcing the importance of looking beyond one’s self.
“We take this task on because we realised some people in our community completely disregard that we live in such a beautiful place,” he said. “I call it trashing our treasure.”
The most recent clean-up focused on the water’s edge near Garvin Park, which was littered with plastic debris and other trash. The crew, which comprised 15-20 people, set to work clearing up the shore.
Hydes issued a plea to the boating community – to locally based vessels as well as visiting cruise ships – to take more care to avoid polluting the water around Cayman.
While volunteers clearly made a difference along the shore and the roads, curbing littering in the first place is essential, he said.
Hydes also offered a reminder that littering can carry a $500 fine and other penalties.
One silver lining though is the sense of accomplishment and pride that foundation residents experience from their efforts, Hydes said. Learning to give back to one’s community is an important part of the recovery process.
“It changes the way we think about ourselves and how we see our community,” he said. “We all play a major role in keeping this island as safe and as clean as possible.”
Junk, the Grand Cayman-based recycling company, provided clean-up supplies. The effort was also supported by Fosters, C3 Pure Fibre and Island Air.
Hydes credited Cabinet ministers André Ebanks and Katherine Ebanks-Wilks for their ongoing support of the clean-ups and of the foundation as a whole.
Volunteer Albert Ebanks said he has enjoyed participating in the past few trash collections, and he encouraged everyone to consider joining the next one, both for the exercise and sense of satisfaction.
“I’ve really enjoyed going out, having a good time with the people there, and giving back to the community,” he added.
Related Videos
