Slug-A-Bug Helping Keep Beloved Islands ‘Unspoiled’

MELBOURNE, Fla. - Away from the office, one of John Gagnon’s favorite pursuits is spending time on the Spoil Islands, popular beach destinations on the Indian River introduced to him by wife Chrissy, whose father built a house on one of the islands where she spent much of her childhood.

Throughout the years, John Gagnon, corporate operations coordinator, Slug-A-Bug, Melbourne, Fla., and Chrissy Gagnon, pest control route manager, Slug-A-Bug, have spent many weekends on the islands, most of which are the result of dredging, and range in size from just more than one acre to 7.5 acres.

The islands are popular tourist destinations where people fish, camp and have cookouts. Unfortunately, this has led to trash becoming a problem. Community members formed the non-profit Friends of the Spoil Islands, which encourages organizations to get involved in a variety of ways, including donating, volunteering and adopting an Island.

© credit | Slug-A-Bug
Left to right: Two unnamed military veterans and clean up volunteers with Slug-A-Bug’s Chrissy Gagnon (far right).

The Gagnons originally wanted to get family and friends involved, but as John Gagnon recalled, “Chrissy said, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we invited some people from work.’ I told her, ‘I’m going to one up you and ask [Slug-A-Bug President] Steve [Lum] if he would sort of be a sponsor.’ Before I even had a chance to finish pitching Steve the idea, he said yes.”

Slug-A-Bug was founded in 1982 by the late Doug Vander Poest, who ingrained in the fabric of the company the importance of giving back. Lum and other company leaders have carried this mission forward. “Doug founded the company on the principle of giving, first giving of his time as a one-man, one truck operator and later as a sponsor,” Lum said.

In 2023, Slug-A-Bug supported 23 community-based organizations through a combination of in-kind services, sponsorships and volunteer hours. In addition the Spoil Islands, other Slug-A-Bug community involvement includes: 

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County - A nonprofit that provides education and emotional support for grandparents and the children they raise.

The Children's Hunger Project - Slug-A-Bug volunteers and provides monetary support to this organization. Volunteers load backpacks with nutritious food and drinks that are easy to prepare and will last from Friday to Monday.

Derby Day - A fundraising event that that coincides with the annual Kentucky Derby. Monies raised benefit the Salvation Army in Brevard, and Crosswinds Youth Services and Rockledge Rotary Foundation.

Family Promise of Brevard - Family Promise provides families at risk of being homeless with resources and support to strengthen their long-term housing prospects.

Neighbor Up Brevard - This organization works with private- and public-sector entities to help revitalize communities that are suffering from poverty. Slug-A-Bug has been a sponsor of the group’s fundraising efforts over the years.

© credit | Slug-A-Bug

Lum also reflected on Vander Poest with the decision to involve Slug-A-Bug with an environmental pursuit like the clean-up of the Spoil Islands. “Whether it was planting trees or putting up nests for birds, Doug always wanted to improve the environment and the community,” he said.

Working with the Friends of the Spoil Islands, Slug-A-Bug has “adopted” an island known as BC47. Teams embark on quarterly cleanup missions to restore and sustain its unadulterated condition.

Gagnon leads the effort by transporting Slug-A-Bug employees on his boat (he can take six at a time), and coordinating with other boaters to transport Slug-A-Bug employees. He said employees have “bought in” and that 7 to 25 employees volunteer each time. “The way we’ve approached employees is by letting them know that this is an opportunity to be part of a solution,” Gagnon said.

Since its initial trash removal in January 2022, Slug-A-Bug has removed 553 pounds of trash and debris.