The Gabs

Photos by Gabrielle Reeder

Caymus Maxson, Madeira Beach: “Start making a habit of picking up trash wherever you are and always leave with three, which means to pick up three pieces of trash wherever you are, anywhere in the community. Start making a healthy habit of just picking up and cleaning our environment.”

Jean Engel, Cape Coral: “If we could all just be as conscious about picking up the waste we see, as we are, just like we do with our pets, pick up their waste. Pick up what you see because it will – it really, truly will – make a difference in our community and we all value where we live in our beautiful state.” Jennifer Engel, Madeira Beach: “I think the best place to start is right in your own backyard. If you take a close look around, more than likely, even as you’re walking down the street, there’s always something to pick up. Whether it’s a cigarette butt, or a plastic bag or even a bottle cap.”

Jennifer Engel, Madeira Beach: “I think the best place to start is right in your own backyard. If you take a close look around, more than likely, even as you’re walking down the street, there’s always something to pick up. Whether it’s a cigarette butt, or a plastic bag or even a bottle cap.”

Carl Engel, Cape Coral: “Look around. See if it’s manmade and laying on the ground, pick it up. Here we have these banners, or flags...rather than use balloons to attract attention to some event. Because if the balloons are helium filled, they’ll wind up in the water sooner or later as the wind carries them. Plastic bags, pick them up, wind will carry them. [The wind] will blow them around and they’ll wind up in ponds and waterways. They’ll deteriorate sooner or later, but mostly later, so pick them up now.”