FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. — The spirit of Jimmy Buffett was alive along Flagler County’s coastline as 129 volunteers joined Keep Flagler Beach Beautiful and its community partners for the second annual Jimmy Buffett Day of Service.
Together, volunteers contributed 296 service hours and removed 437.5 pounds of trash from local roadsides and public spaces, including sections of State Road A1A and State Road 100.
The cleanup brought together Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Flagler Beach, Friends of A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, local organizations, lifeguards, Junior ROTC members, Girl Scouts and other community volunteers.
“This is what Jimmy would have done—you give back, enjoy the places we have close to the water and keep things going,” said Manoj Bhoola, owner of Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Flagler Beach. “This is a great organization. We’ve supported them through different activities throughout the year, and we love what they do and what they stand for.”
Bhoola said the character of Flagler Beach has made it easy for the hotel to embrace the community.
“They don’t build small beach towns in Florida anymore, and this particular one is funky,” he said. “It’s cool, and it’s just a nice place to hang out.”
While beach cleanups often receive the most attention, organizers placed a special emphasis on roadside litter, which can eventually make its way into waterways and the ocean.
“That’s where most of the trash is,” said Daryl Reynolds, executive director of Keep Flagler Beach Beautiful. “People park their cars along A1A and either forget to clean up behind themselves or toss it out of their windows.”
Reynolds said cigarette butts remain the most commonly collected item. Volunteers distributed pocket and cupholder ashtrays during the event as part of the organization’s effort to educate the public and prevent littering.
Kali Hiemier, program manager for Keep Florida Beautiful, said an estimated 80% of litter on land eventually becomes marine debris. Roadside waste also threatens wildlife, pollutes the land and water, and diminishes the natural beauty of the community.
“Any event that gets people together talking about litter, cleaning it up or removing it is something we are always going to support,” Hiemier said. “Daryl and the whole Keep Flagler Beach Beautiful crew have always been great about bringing their community together. Their passion brings out the passion in everyone else.”
Keep Florida Beautiful supports 45 affiliates stretching from Pensacola to Key West, providing resources such as grants, trash bags and litter grabbers to help communities organize cleanup and beautification projects.
Flagler Beach’s nine Beach Bucket Foundation stations also offer residents and visitors a convenient way to collect litter while enjoying the shoreline. The program was founded by Andrew Abbott, who has personally built and distributed approximately 110 stations.
“I want to see these things everywhere,” Abbott said. “Most importantly, people use them. I can’t even imagine how much trash has been collected.”
For Keep Flagler Beach Beautiful and its partners, the day’s results represented more than the 437.5 pounds of debris removed. They reflected a community willing to work together to protect the laid-back coastal environment that Buffett celebrated—and that makes Flagler Beach a special place to call home.
