Volunteers collect 1K pounds of garbage in La Perla area
Olympic wrestling silver medalist Jaime Espinal spends time with the kids who took part in the event.
More than 200 volunteers from Starbucks, Agua Sala Ministry, Club Sparta, and other organizations recently collected about 1,000 pounds of garbage from the beach bordering the La Perla community in Old San Juan during the sixth edition of the Jornada Eco Deportiva event.
Activity promoters, athletes Luz Marie Grande and Jaime Espinal, also included bodyboarding clinics, an arts and crafts workshop and cartooning classes.
“This is our third year participating and supporting Loly (Luz Marie Grande) in this activity that touches our hearts,” said Virginia Rivera, head of branding and category for Starbucks. “Promoting good values and sport, while we take care of the environment, is a winning formula that goes along with Starbucks’ mission as a company.”
The group picked up debris, plastics, glass bottles and cigarette butts among other waste and pollutants found at the beach.
“Athletes should always have the responsibility to give back to their country and society. That way, we guarantee our place in the future development of children,” said Grande, a bodyboarding champion. “Beyond going after the top spots in competitive sports, our commitment is to teach by example the values taught by the rigors of sport.”
Meanwhile, Olympic medalist Espinal said they are already planning the next edition of the Jornada Eco Deportiva event, participated this year by children belonging to the Club Sparta Olympic wrestling group.
“They had a beautiful and profound experience at La Perla, with all the volunteers. We are grateful for such generosity,” Espinal said.
