Rudd, who runs the nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT), started the clean-ups of a one-mile stretch of Belmont Shore by asking 12 friends to join him on a Saturday to pick up debris when the City of Long Beach was unable to keep up with the daily trash on the high-tide line. Now, a few hundred volunteers help out each month, rain or shine. Rudd says the ages of volunteers range from 3 to 93, and groups with as many as 75 regularly attend from schools, churches and businesses. For the past few months, and including the next cleanup, CAT has funded buses to bring students from area schools to help clean the beach. Those groups typically stay for an hour or so after the cleanup to enjoy frolicking on the sand and in the water, Rudd said. He keeps the guesswork out of the monthly cleanups by having it at the same time, place and Saturday each month.
The beach clean-up on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 10am will be the 150th since Rudd began them. To celebrate the milestone, CAT will award “door prizes,” including two new bikes.
“Bring your friends and be parked and get your free raffle ticket if you arrive by 10am sharp,” said Rudd. “Contests and refreshments will follow the cleanup.” Free parking is available at 1 Granada Ave.
Additional door prizes will include Aquarium of the Pacific tickets and a behind-the-scenes Aquarium tour four pack, as well as a gift basket from Cowboy Dan’s Jerky Emporium.
Free bags and gloves will be provided, as well as refreshments from Duthie Power Services and Spider Energy Drinks. Volunteer credit forms will also be available.
“We do provide bags, but we encourage folks to bring their own recycled bags, like a plastic grocery sack,” said Rudd. “Bring extra sacks too.”
More Information
beachcleanup.org
