Izabella Hernandez, a self-proclaimed superhero nerd, has a cartoon version of herself embracing a globe on cards that read: Help End All Litter. Though a lofty goal, Hernandez, a high schooler at Barbara Goleman Senior High School, is ready to do just that.
Through her work with www.seemybeach.com where she would film on location for tourist attractions in Florida, Hernandez came face to face with the unfortunate reality of massive amounts of litter during a videoshoot in which the litter appeared in the frame from every angle. Startled by this fact and unnerved by how much litter sat along Florida’s coast, Hernandez embarked on a goal to eliminate litter.
Similar to how the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts have troops all throughout the nation, Hernandez is attempting to create pockets of awareness fueled by students everywhere to attack litter on all coasts. With the help of the staff at www.seemybeach.com, and her parents, Hernandez organized a cleanup mission in the Florida Keys wherein transportation and equipment was provided for a beach, bay and mangrove cleanup.
Hernandez managed to receive the help of corporate sponsors such as A1A media, HNO Productions and the Hard Rock Cafe. The local Monroe County Sheriff Deputies and members of the Upper Keys and Key Largo Rotary were also on location participating in the cleanup. Additionally, Ashley Lawrence of Animal Planet’s Gator Boys made and appearance and cleaned alongside Hernandez.
Despite a low turnout at the first organized cleanup, a member of Key Largo School noted that the school would be the first chapter of “Help End All Litter” and will be doing regular cleanups. Hernandez is continuing forward with determination to see to it that students of all ages, including herself, are doing everything they can to eliminate litter. More organized cleanups in the local area are planned and will be announced via the website at www.helpendalllitter.com.
“We kids did not create the litter problem, but this is our world and our future so it is up to us to fix it,” said Hernandez.