SRQ Volunteens host weekend service events

Students gather air potatoes along Phillippi Creek for Global Youth Service Day Weekend

  • By Amanda Morales
  • | 1:40 p.m. April 18, 2015
  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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The SRQ Volunteens pitched in at Phillippi Estate Park rounding up buckets of air potatoes with the Sarasota Bay Guardians Saturday morning. The event was part of a weekend of volunteer opportunities for the Global Youth Service Day Weekend that kicked off with an event at Girls Inc. on Friday.

Air potatoes are the non-edible fruit of an invasive vine that is common along Phillippi Creek and throughout the state of Florida. The vine is recognizable for large heart-shaped leaves that tend to be glossy.

Equipped with buckets, gloves and shovels volunteers combed through pathways looking for air potatoes. Between the three teams the group collected a total of 244 pounds of potatoes. The group also took home the award for weirdest air potato for the day. Hundreds of pounds of air potatoes were collected between the SRQ Volunteens and other groups that participated. 

On Sunday the SRQ Volunteens will conclude the weekend with a day of cleaning up Sarasota Bay with Mote Marine Laboratory.

Minnah Stein and Emma Kanego weigh a bucket of air potatoes they collected.
Minnah Stein and Emma Kanego weigh a bucket of air potatoes they collected.
Jack Kempton found an air potato that the volunteers agreed looks like a baby duck.
Jack Kempton found an air potato that the volunteers agreed looks like a baby duck.
Emma Kanego digs through bushes for air potatoes.
Emma Kanego digs through bushes for air potatoes.
Andres Gonzalez hunts for air potatoes.
Andres Gonzalez hunts for air potatoes.
Billy is what Brynn-Lei Radcliffe decided to name the weirdest-shaped potato she found. The group won the award with “Billy” for the weirdest air potato for the event.
Billy is what Brynn-Lei Radcliffe decided to name the weirdest-shaped potato she found. The group won the award with “Billy” for the weirdest air potato for the event.
The group picked 244 pounds worth of air potatoes in one morning.
The group picked 244 pounds worth of air potatoes in one morning.
All of the SRQ Volunteens who participated in the Saturday morning service event.
All of the SRQ Volunteens who participated in the Saturday morning service event.
Jack Kempton, Linda Qian and Vittorio Sterpone
Jack Kempton, Linda Qian and Vittorio Sterpone
Jack Kempton shows off a piece of the invasive vine.
Jack Kempton shows off a piece of the invasive vine.
Volunteers spread out along the shrubbery at Phillippi Estate Park.
Volunteers spread out along the shrubbery at Phillippi Estate Park.
Vaisakh Nair with a handful of air potatoes
Vaisakh Nair with a handful of air potatoes
Zaire Kekahuna found several air potatoes.
Zaire Kekahuna found several air potatoes.

 

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