Volunteers Sought for Saturday Beach Cleanup

The Surfrider Foundation is looking for volunteers to help clean up Newport Beach this weekend.

Anyone interested in helping beautify the beach should meet at 54th Street and Seashore Drive. The cleanup will take place Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Michelle Giron, the foundation's volunteer coordinator, says volunteers are imperative to helping keep the beaches clean.

"Every time we hold a cleanup, volunteers divert many pounds of trash from reaching the ocean," Giron told Patch. "While we do realize that volunteers cannot prevent the majority of trash from reaching the oceans, even from this small patch of coastline, volunteers become more aware of the human impacts on the health of our beaches, oceans and ourselves."

The purpose of the beach cleanups is to remove items that do not belong there and to spread awareness to the community about making sure plastic bags and water bottles don't get into the waterways and oceans.

"Our presence on the beach also shows other visitors that there are people committed to protecting our beaches and oceans," Giron said. "It is always heartening when people come up to volunteer during a cleanup and we thank them for what they do."

Volunteers can park at the metered parking lots or take advantage of the free street parking on Seashore Drive. Don't forget! Bring your sunscreen, layers and a beach towel.