Grab your gumption, a bucket and a pair of gloves.
Volunteers of all ages are needed to help clean up the San
Diego River in the city of Santee during Coastal Cleanup Day, from 9 a.m. to
noon on Saturday, Sept. 15. |
| Volunteers during last year's Coastal Cleanup Day |
For the fifth consecutive year in Santee, volunteers will
fan out along the river and pick up any trash or debris they can find.
“We also try to have some fun,” said Shannon
Quigley-Raymond, who oversees the cleanup . “There are contests to see who can
collect the most cigarette butts, and who can find the most unusual item.”Some folks stay for an hour, while others stay for the duration of the event, she said. There’s no minimum time requirement.
At noon, everyone gathers to celebrate their achievement. It’s a great way to meet other people who care about the environment and clean water. More than 90 people have signed up so far.
In recent years, volunteers have plucked from the riverbed such oddities as a “Finding Nemo” pillow and a plastic toy bow-and-arrow, she said.
"A lot of it is litter that was blown off the street or washed down storm drains during the rainy season," she said.
The search for trash is not entirely random. Debris piles
created by transients or illegal dumping, which were identified earlier this year and mapped by
volunteers for the San Diego River Park Foundation, also will be targeted by cleanup crews.
Kids who participate will get to toss balls containing
wildflower seeds, which in the spring will produce native lupines and poppies
along the river.Volunteers in Santee will gather at Town Center Community Park East near Cuyamaca Street and River Park Drive just south of the ball fields
Please register in advance by clicking here so organizers can bring the
right amount of supplies.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:Please wear closed toed shoes and sun protection (sunscreen, hat, etc.)
Note: All participants are
required to sign a liability waiver; persons under age of 18 require the
signature of a parent or guardian to participate.
