On Saturday morning, we met up with our good friend Bonnie at Wrightsville Beach to participate in the Cape Fear Surfrider's Spring Surfer Sweep. Doing an organized beach clean up is a little different than when we do our 20 minute clean ups... with no time limit we casually stroll and stop to talk A LOT!! <--- apparently that's something that Bonnie and I are very good at! ;) Having gotten rain the day before (and not usually doing morning clean ups), I wasn't sure that there would be much to clean up on the beach. BUT... as usual... the litter was there. In fact, between our family and Bonnie, we picked up 3 lbs 4 oz of litter... which included 499 cigarette butts. I've added those 499 cigarette butts to the Community Count for Wrightsville Beach (check the totals out on the sidebar).
High Five Facts about Surfrider:
- Rise Above Plastics: Surfrider is on a mission to reduce the impacts of plastics in the marine environment by raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and by advocating for a reduction of single-use plastics and the recycling of all plastics. Cape Fear Surfrider has ditched handing out plastic garbage bags for clean ups. Instead, they're now using burlap bags!
- Not The Answer: Surfrider is opposed to any new off-shore drilling and strongly advocates for America to seek a comprehensive and environmentally sustainable energy plan that includes energy conservation. Save the date: Hands Across the Sand is June 25!
- The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water
- Surfrider SOUP: Surfrider's informative (and free!) e-newsletter with the latest environmental and coastal news. (Sign up at www.surfrider.org... in the top righthand corner.)
- Surfrider has kick ass apparel. Seriously. Looking for a "Ban The Bag" tee?? You'll find it here: Swell Surfrider Store
Ok... so anyone can join Surfrider. You don't have to be a surfer. ;) Become involved in anyway you can. Make a donation, do a beach clean up, sign up for the weekly SOUP, share Surfrider's PSAs... become engaged to protect what we love; our oceans, waves and beaches.
To learn more about how awesome Surfrider is... check out their website: www.surfrider.org
Thanks for posting this. I would like to add a few things worth mentioning. 1) if you do not join an organization like Surfrider Foundation, please take a few minutes out of each day to pick up some litter (three a day is my moto). 2) If you do join Surfrider Foundation, please identify the local chapter in your area. This helps them pull from a volunteer base and the local chapters also receive a portion of your donation to Surfrider Foundation. Having accurate number counts of members in areas also helps planning of resources and we all want our home area to receive those resources. 3) If you can't afford to join with a yearly membership, then please come out to an organized Surfrider Event and lend some of your time. The strength of our organization is founded on grassroots volunteers, just like you. 4) If you can afford a yearly membership, please consider the monthly giving option.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for posting this information. I'm constantly amazed at how much impact a single volunteer can make in his or her community.
Of course, Sean! AND... thanks so much for adding more insight/info :)
ReplyDeleteGratitude for all that you do for our community and as always... we're here to help in anyway that we can whenever you need us :)