Rachael Delekta Chosen as Keep Florida Beautiful 2022 Volunteer of the Year
Rachael Delekta, a devoted volunteer and Board Member with Keep Martin Beautiful, has been selected as the 2022 Keep Florida Beautiful Volunteer of the Year for the state of Florida.
This Stuart resident has put her passion for the environment and litter cleanup into action across Martin County. She’s frequently seen on the stretch of sand between Jensen Beach and Bathtub Reef Beach picking up marine debris left behind by visitors or that washed up from the ocean, or in front of her neighborhood along Kanner Highway collecting litter carelessly tossed there.
Rachel has also officially taken responsibility for a street near her home through participation in Keep Martin Beautiful’s Adopt-A-Road program. While the requirements are to clean the roadway six times a year, Rachael removes litter from her adopted road multiple times a week, ensuring it stays beautiful and litter free.
Official records show she has single-handedly picked up more than 2,000 pounds of litter and marine debris from public spaces over the past few years, but that tells only part of the story. Rachael has inspired others to become active in environmental causes, using her social media platforms to encourage everyone to take the initiative and do something good in their own community for the benefit of the whole planet.
“We sometimes ask what just one person can do to help the environment,” said Keep Martin Beautiful Executive Director Tiffany Kincaid. “In Rachael’s case, the answer is ‘Quite a lot!’ The Keep Florida Beautiful Award judges were impressed with everything Rachael has accomplished herself and the example she sets for others.”
Rachael was also recently featured on the local NBC affiliate WPTV Channel 5 for her litter cleanups and in 2020, she was honored by Keep Martin Beautiful with an Environmental Stewardship Award.
For Rachael, the accolades aren’t important. Her satisfaction comes from knowing she can serve as an inspiration to others. Her blog, Chasing Teddy, is named after her hero President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt famously put conservation on the national agenda and signed into law the creation of five National Parks. “TR lived life with great vigor and zeal,” Rachael writes in her blog. “I hope to journey in that same spirit - climbing every mountain, jumping in every puddle, and engaging with every moment.”
Her Facebook and Instagram posts (@cleanupfl) consistently encourage Martin County citizens to be aware of their environment and act responsibly on behalf of this paradise we call home. “We are only given one earth,” Rachael says. “We have to protect it.”
Keep Martin Beautiful is always seeking volunteers for its year-round cleanup activities and Adopt-A-Road program as well as sponsorships and other partners to advance its mission. For more information, contact Keep Martin Beautiful at 772-781-1222 or email info@keepmartinbeautiful.org.
About Keep Martin Beautiful
Keep Martin Beautiful (KMB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization founded in 1994 as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. Its mission is to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Martin County through litter prevention, the promotion of recycling, improvement of solid waste management practices, and beautification and community revitalization activities. KMB signature events and programs include the Environmental Stewardship Awards, the International Coastal Cleanup, the Great American Cleanup, the Adopt-A-Road and Adopt-A-Street programs, and other educational and outreach activities. Find KMB on Facebook at facebook.com/KeepMartinBeautiful, follow KMB on Instagram at instagram.com/keepmartinbeautiful, visit KeepMartinBeautiful.org or call 772-781-1222.
