Environmentally conscious supporters of Keep Indian River Beautiful glided across the Indian River Lagoon in kayaks and on paddleboards to help raise funds and awareness during the organization’s annual Paddle Dash, a family-friendly race with proceeds going toward KIRB’s environmental improvement programs.
Paddlers launched in staggered heats of 1, 3 and 6 miles, from Vero Tackle and Watersports, whose owner, Chris Woodruff, oversaw the race. From the docks alongside Riverside Café and the Merrill P. Barber Bridge, they headed south; some to paddle around Memorial Island, and others to make either one or two trips around the spoil island near the Alma Lee Loy Bridge and back again.
Participants ranged from first timers, simply out to enjoy a day on the lagoon, to participants who were a bit more serious about the racing aspects of the competition. But no matter their ability level, their goal was unified – keeping the Indian River Lagoon pristine and Indian River County as a whole, beautiful.
“The idea behind the race is to help local kids in our Community Heroes program get involved and become stewards of our environment. Many of these kids can’t afford summer camps or afterschool programs,” said Michael Ansley, KIRB executive director.
The nonprofit has undergone a few changes recently, according to Ansley, who explained when the national Keep America Beautiful lost some of its funding during COVID, that funding loss trickled down to the KIRB affiliate.
To sustain the work undertaken by KIRB for the community, the nonprofit is now 100 percent volunteer-driven. Another all-volunteer nonprofit, Helping Hands Community of the Treasure Coast, is serving as a support structure while KIRB reorganizes, so that it can continue to provide its important local programs and services.
Ansley commented that they are currently developing or restructuring various programs geared toward “enhancing our community environment through volunteerism and education.”
Those programs include Cigarette Litter Prevention, Lagoon Friendly Lawns, Community Heroes, KIRB Aquatic Adventures, Event Recycling and Litter Quitter.
Ansley said that KIRB had adopted the motto “Serve, heal and inspire with Helping Hands” as a way to combat the increase in mental health issues as a result of the pandemic.
“We believe that nature is healing,” said Ansley.
From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sept. 17, KIRB and Coastal Connections will co-host the International Coastal Cleanup at various locations in Indian River County. For more information, visit KeepIndianRiverBeautiful.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
