The Alabama Coastal Foundation teamed up with the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve and Nature Center on Thursday, Oct. 22 to hold the Connect to Your Coast outreach dinner.
The event, which was held outside at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center and included dinner from Moe’s Original Bar B Que, aimed to educate the public about the Alabama Coastal Foundation and how it could get involved with the organization.
Mike Brete, executive director of ACF, said the purpose of the organization is to preserve and better the coastal environment.
“We are a non-profit organization, and our mission is to improve and protect the coastal environment through cooperation, education and participation,” Brete said.
The participation program, Brete said, allows people to act on issues facing the coast.
“Our participation program is where we ask people to roll up their sleeves and get out there and do something about it,” Brete said. “Whether it is a cleanup or building oysters reefs.”
Two Auburn alumni, Joe McEnerey, coastal relations coordinator and former president of ACF, and Sam Jeffers, AmeriCorps VISTA member, attended the event.
Jeffers, graduate in biology, helped coordinate the event and was involved with ACF during his time at Auburn.
“I was a member, so I came to one of these," Jeffers said. "Nothing like this where I was completely into it, but yeah, I was involved.”
McEnerey said ACF wants to get more Auburn students involved with the organization.
“We come up here so we can reach out and meet new citizens and encourage them to come volunteer,” McEnerey said. “We’ve done it for four years.”
Brete said it is important people protect the Alabama coast because of its importance to the state.
“Our Gulf of Mexico produces 40 percent of all seafood in the state and it supports a $20 billion tourist industry,” Brete said. “A large part of the Alabama budget is based on what is the revenue generated every summer from the Gulf Coast.”
Brete said the Gulf is a treasure and ACF offers many ways people can help keep it clean and healthy, even from Auburn.
“People who didn’t hear about the event can go to joinacf.org and they can learn about all of our different programs,” Brete said. “Ways that they can volunteer and help with the cleanups and the tree plantings and the ways they can help … up there in Lee County.”
Brete said people give back so the coastal communities will be here for generations.
“Whether it is a donation or a donation of time, we want to make sure people give back to the environment so that their kids and grandkids can enjoy it into the future,” Brete said.
Brete said he suggests volunteering with the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center, which Jennifer Lolley, outreach administrator of the center, said would help.
“It feels good out here, and it's good for y’all to get outside," Lolley said. "It’s also good for your resume. Come out here, and you can volunteer, or you can get employed by me, but I need a lot of help.”
If you are interested in volunteering at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center, contact Jennifer Lolley at preserve@auburn.edu or visit joinacf.org for more information on the Alabama Coastal Foundation.
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