Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – As the year draws to a close, Eco-Clean Marine (ECM) is making a final push to promote environmental stewardship, offering individuals an opportunity to contribute to their significant ecological initiative.
Throughout the region and beyond, ECM collaborates with volunteers and sponsors at various locations for its cornerstone event, “Feed the Fish.” This initiative is a critical component of the organization’s monthly success. Under the leadership of founder and CEO Courtney Dombroski, ECM continues to foster its vision of preserving coastal environments. The first event of the new year, is scheduled to take place in Florida. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the organization’s website for more information and registration details. Additionally, the forthcoming Orange Beach cleanup event, slated for February, will soon announce further specifics. ECM ensures all necessary equipment is provided, including gloves, bags, and grabbers to alleviate physical strain. For those unable to attend, Dombroski highlights an alternative way to contribute: purchasing a ‘Bucket of Goodwill,’ which directly supports ECM’s ongoing efforts to maintain the cleanliness and health of the Gulf Coast.
To support the cause in this way, click here
Dombroski ensures that each volunteer feels loved and purposeful as they join the team in their humble endeavors. This is done in part by the way each person is welcomed and also by making sure everyone has a chance to win gratitude prizes from raffles held at each event. She is able to partner with many local businesses that jump at the chance to donate prizes varying from merch to experience gifts and certificates and sometimes mini vacations to local coastal destinations. Dombroski also thanked the community by holding Eco-Clean Marine’s first annual volunteer appreciation party at Jesse’s on the Bay. Here’s what some in attendance had to say about their experiences and about ECM.
Travis Valentine, COO for South Baldwin Chamber showed up in support of coastal cleanup solidarity while continuing to spread awareness for all the efforts Dombroski and her team lead. Valentine first came across ECM and Dombroski almost two years ago and has since enjoyed watching their rise to success. Valentine expresses he immediately noticed her drive and passion and wanted “to get Courtney connected to all the resources that the Chamber has.” This played out by introducing her to groups like the Lower Alabama Young Professionals and other local professionals and businesses. Valentines says he wanted to assist in helping her “increase her bandwidth and resources” and has fondly observed the triumph.
Some volunteers showed up early for the party to be a part of a quick morning clean-up down Fort Morgan Road. Native to the area since 1949 Clarke Strong stood tall and proud after finishing the mornings over 80 bag trash clean up ready to praise ECM. Strong explains how he’s been around since before the “big population explosion” and finds himself often appalled at the amount of unnecessary trash that came with it. He was overjoyed to see such inspiring young and old locals coming together in participation to help ease some of the left behind trash overload. Courtney and Eco-Clean Marine are now his favorite group to work with in the place that “will always be my home.”
Other participants include newcomers such as Karen Lyons with the Lower Alabama Parrot Head club who first heard of Eco Clean Marine after attending the “Bald Eagle Bash.” Lyons with her husband connect to the island’s clean-up in not just organized clean up ways but also as “random volunteers and islanders.” Lyons gladly shares that she “keeps a net and trash bags on her paddleboard” and has even hauled in items as large as two by fours floating around in the water. Her husband took second place this year in the “dive the pier” event where divers attempt to collect as much debris and sunken fishing gear as possible before resurfacing. Lyons scoped out the event to share her experience with the over 100 Parrot Head club members to get groups together for future clean-ups. The best parts about coastal clean-ups for Lyans is “being outside, doing a good deed and, of course, meeting new people.”
These striking testimonies are just a few from the many who encounter the same warm feeling of kindness and excitement when their endorphins give you the signal “good job.” There is still plenty of room to join the initiative, and be a part of the team in 2024 with Eco-Clean Marine. To make a tax-deductible donation, see the link below. Not only does ECM sponsor local clean-ups and run the “Feed the Fish” program, they also offer fun educational resources for kids through their website and e-book. Make sure to sign up for the newsletter to always stay in the know about where to go. As Dombroski says, “together, we can forge a cleaner, brighter future for our marine environment.” Let’s go. Tax-deductible Gift Link is
Eco Clean Marine
P.O Box 1324
Gulf Shores, AL 36547
