COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

 

 

Although malaria was largely eradicated from Florida in the 1950's, worldwide over a million people die from malaria each year, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately 70% of them are children, equivalent to roughly three thousand children per day, every day.

Malaria is a mosquito-born disease, so it seemed only fitting for District employees to participate in a global grassroots campaign, World Swim For Malaria, to help prevent the disease. Employees participated by swimming or donation, and collected over $2000 in late 2005 and early 2006.

All funds collected are used to purchase long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets for distribution in affected areas. Our $2,000 will purchase approximately 400 bed nets, and statistically save 20 lives. For more information on malaria and World Swim for Malaria, go to www.worldswimformalaria.com .

 

Throughout the year, we actively participate in many community activities. Whether it is the county and state fairs, visits to local area schools, or local land improvements, we are always trying to better the community that we live in. Helping the public to better understand our operations, especially spraying operations, is the key goal.
 

 

 

Each year we participate in the County and State fairs. This is good way for us to reach the public about important issues. Helping people locate breeding sites of mosquitoes around their house is one of the most important. Explaining aerial spraying and fog truck applications is another important topic that the public needs to be well informed of.

 

 

On January 13, 2000 we received a letter from the United States Department of the Interior, along with a plaque, thanking us for our work clearing out the mangrove canals at De Soto National Memorial. There were two canals that were heavily blocked and covered over by several feet of sand. This was restricting tidal flow and creating a tremendous mosquito breeding area.
Our worked cleared out these canals and opened the waterway
back up. In addition, we also gave guidelines on how to best
maintain these canals for proper tidal flow.

The following employee's were commended: Dwight Andress, Art Shiver, Brian Harrell, Robert Smith, Kirt Aylward, Lloyd Watts, Andrew Tornello, Johnny Gardner, and Jeffrey Davis.

 

 

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