Make the World a Better Place Saturday for Coastal Cleanup Day

Wish you could volunteer, make the world a better place and still kick it at one of our world-famous San Diego County beaches or waterways?

Then this is the weekend for you!

Saturday is California Coastal Cleanup Day! And there’s still plenty of room to volunteer a few hours — from 9 a.m. to noon — to hang out with other cool people and help clean more than 90 sites stretching from Oceanside to the U.S. Mexico border and from the coast to Lakeside’s Lindo Lake.

The annual statewide event is put on locally by I Love a Clean San Diego; sponsored by our County; financially supported by Board of Supervisors Chairman Greg Cox and Supervisors Dave Roberts and Ron Roberts; and last year collected and got rid of more than 80 tons of cigarette butts, caps and lids, food packaging and recyclable plastic!

All you need is a bucket, work gloves, a reusable water bottle and to check here to register to become a part of a really worthy — and rewarding — event.

“Coastal Cleanup Day is one of my favorite events of the year because you see residents from all communities and from large companies rolling up their sleeves to clean up our beaches, bays and waterways,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Greg Cox.

Marsha Cook, as part of the Department of Public Works Watershed Protection Program, has been working every day for years to protect local beaches and waterways. (Much of the litter, pollution and yuck that ends up in our beaches, bays, creeks and rivers is swept up and carried from our neighborhoods and communities by rainfall and that out-of-control sprinkler running down your street.)

But Cook said Coastal Cleanup Day is one of her favorite days of the year, and an event she’s been taking part in for many years because there is such a sense of satisfaction.

“There’s a really neat energy about the day,” she said, “there’s an electricity in the air, an enthusiasm — and a wonderful sense of accomplishment. If you can help out, please consider a few hours in the sunshine doing a good deed.”

Saturday’s event will officially kick off with a media event — Supervisor Cox is one of a number of speakers — at 9 a.m. at Gompers Neighborhood Park in Chollas View. But with more than 90 locations, there’s probably a Coastal Cleanup site near you.

So volunteer! Make the world a better place! And have a great time!

All volunteers must sign a waiver to take part; kids under the age of 18 needs a parent or guardian’s signature.

And if you do take part, we want to hear about it. Take a photo or two and we may show them off on InSite! Email the picture with your name, department and location where you did the cleanup - preferably an exact address. Even if you don't have a picture, send us a note saying where you took part.