SOLVE’s Riverside and Beach Cleanup set for Sept. 29
Celebrate and care for your community by volunteering on Saturday, September 29 for the SOLVE Beach & Riverside Cleanup, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery. SOLVE invites all Oregonians to help remove invasive plants and clean up hundreds of miles of beaches, rivers, and city streets before fall rains wash litter and debris into storm drains and out to sea.
Who: SOLVE, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, along with over 5,000 Oregonians, will mobilize across the state for the 35th annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup.
What: Since 1984, over 130,000 Beach & Riverside Cleanup volunteers have removed an astounding 1.7 million pounds of litter and marine debris from project sites across Oregon. This annual, family-friendly event is part of the International Coastal Cleanup and National Public Lands Day.
When: Saturday, September 29 from 10 am to 1 pm (times may vary by project).
Where: This event includes over 115 hands-on volunteer litter cleanup and restoration events across the state, including 45 beach cleanup sites coast-wide.
There are three Central Oregon events listed at SOLVE’s site that day – a cleanup of the Upper Deschutes River starting at Sunriver Nature Center, a Whychus Creek Cleanup at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve and a Sisters Community Cleanup Day, overseen by Sisters Parks and Rec.
How: Find your favorite project and sign up at solveoregon.org. All supplies and instructions will be provided by project leaders the morning of the event. To help make the event more sustainable, litter cleanup volunteers are encouraged to bring their own work gloves, bucket, and water bottle to reduce the use of plastic.
Why: From the headwaters of the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean, water connects us all. Despite our shared landscape, Oregon’s water, wildlife, and economy are threatened by litter. Cigarette butts, plastic, and other trash get washed into storm drains, leading directly to our rivers and streams where they pollute our water, and can be mistaken for food by fish and other wildlife. In addition, non-native invasive plants like English ivy crowd out native plants, reducing habitat for many animals.
You can be part of the solution by volunteering on September 29 for a litter cleanup or restoration project near you. Just a few hours of hands-on work can make a big difference!
“Whether you’re kayaking down a river, camping at the Coast or having a picnic at one of Oregon’s many parks, you can’t help but feel fortunate to live in such a beautiful state,” said Lottery Director Barry Pack. “SOLVE’s Beach & Riverside Cleanup gives thousands of Oregonians the opportunity to help preserve that beauty.”
“I encourage you to get together with family, friends and co-workers on Saturday, Sept. 29 to volunteer at one of 100 SOLVE project sites across the state. Be a part of helping SOLVE make this year’s Beach & Riverside Cleanup a success. Sign up to volunteer today at solveoregon.org.”
The Beach & Riverside Cleanup is held in partnership with the Oregon Lottery. Additional sponsors include Metro, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, local coast haulers, Chevron, Fred Meyer, NW Natural, Wells Fargo, K103fm, KOIN 6, BottleDrop, Clean Water Services, Coca-Cola, Pacific Power, Skanska, and Tillamook County Creamery Association.
About SOLVE
SOLVE is a statewide non-profit organization that brings Oregonians together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model for volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, and to build a legacy of stewardship for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information.
