Cape Assist and the LTHYC Host SEAccessful Beach Cleanup

WILDWOOD, NJ – Cape Assist and the Lower Township Healthy Youth Coalition (LTHYC) are asking visitors and locals alike to leave nothing but their footprints as they visit South Jersey beaches this summer. The two groups spent the morning of June 3 cleaning an almost two-mile stretch of North Cape May starting at David Douglass Sr. Memorial Park.

Over thirty community members of all ages tied up roughly six bags of mostly plastic water bottles and cigarette butts that made their way to the shoreline. Gloves, bags and tools were provided by the Lower Township Public Works Department.

“This is our home,” said Cape Assist Executive Director and CEO Katie Faldetta. “Cape Assist and the LTHYC’s mission is to promote taking care of oneself by developing healthy habits – this is one of them. Community service and caring for our communities builds on those habits.”

The LTHYC advisory group meets monthly to develop ideas such as the beach cleanup. They not only wanted to host a community-building event to help students earn volunteer hours but strategically planned the clean up just prior to Escape the Cape, a nationally recognized Triathlon that brings athletes to South Jersey from all around the world. Out of the 17 youth that attended, 11 received community service hours.

“We are proud of the Delaware Bay beaches where the ecosystem supports bird, butterfly, and horseshoe migrations,” said LTHYC Coordinator Jodi Corbett. "I sense that most of the volunteers came because they appreciate the Delaware bay beaches’ natural beauty and public park system.”

The LTHYC is a community initiative of Cape Assist to connect to our young residents. In addition to these events, the LTHYC runs training and programs to help raise awareness of mental health and substance misuse issues. The LTHYC implements strategies to prevent and reduce substance misuse and its associated consequences through community collaboration and change.

As with all coalition work, the LTHYC has support from the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office, Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, Burke Motor Group, Townbank Fire Company, the Township of Lower, and Rio Grande Westside Meats.

To learn more about events and activities run by the Lower Township Healthy Youth Coalition, go to https://www.lthyc.org/.