Volunteers for the Coastal Cleanup on September 16 will end their efforts with a celebration lunch thanks to Bank of the Islands.

“Our bankers have formed a formidable Coastal Cleanup team every September for as long as we can remember,” said Bank of the Islands President Robbie Roepstorff. “Last year we also sponsored a breakfast for all the volunteers. This time, we’re happy to sponsor a lunch for all who will be working hard to keep our beaches clean.”

The local Coastal Cleanup efforts are coordinated by SCCF’s Coastal Watch Director Kealy McNeal as part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. According to the Ocean Conservancy, 10.5 million volunteers have cleaned 350,000 miles of shoreline collecting 192 million pounds of trash in the more than three decades of this international effort.

SCCF’s Coastal Watch is dedicated to preserving Southwest Florida’s estuaries and oceans for future generations — a mission it carries out with the help of committed volunteers who execute projects such as mangrove planting, oyster gardening, beach litter cleanup, and more. To learn more, contact Kealy McNeal at [email protected] or visit www.sccf.org.

As the oldest locally owned and managed community bank on Sanibel and Captiva, Bank of the Islands is proud to be the winner of more than 50 “Best of the Islands” awards over two decades. To learn more, visit www.bankoftheislands.com.