Volunteers can register at any of 26 check-in sites between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. on April 26th. Volunteers must pre-register for the St. Jo Island location in advance, as reservations are required due to limited access. Volunteers for St. Jo Island will check in on April 26th at 8 a.m. at Fisherman's Wharf, 900 Tarpon St., in Port Aransas.
Texans who are not able to attend the cleanup can help keep their beaches clean by making a tax-deductible donation online at www.texasadoptabeach.org. There are several different Adopt-A-Beach sponsorship levels ranging from $25 to $25,000, allowing both individuals and corporations to contribute to this major cleanup effort.
Each volunteer will be given data cards, gloves, pencils and trash bags. All volunteers are advised to wear closed-toe shoes and bring sunscreen and plenty of drinking water. The all-volunteer event is coordinated through the Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Program. Statewide coastal cleanups are held every spring and fall.
Texas beaches receive large amounts of marine debris due to a convergence of currents in the Gulf of Mexico. Since 1986, more than 365,000 Texas Adopt-A-Beach volunteers have picked up more than 6,900 tons of trash along the Texas coast. Volunteers record data on the trash to learn more about the causes of marine debris and to help mitigate pollution along Texas' 367 miles of coastline.
Statewide sponsors for the Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup are National Oilwell Varco, Royal Caribbean, ExxonMobil, Stormwater Solutions, Halliburton and Starbucks. In-kind donations will be provided by Keep Texas Beautiful.
The General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Cleanups are held rain or shine! For a complete listing of cleanup sites for the upcoming Spring Cleanup, to learn how you can participate, or for additional information on the Adopt-A-Beach Program, please visit www.texasadoptabeach.org or contact the GLO at 1-877-TX COAST.
Here are some of the sites closest to Houston:
- Horsepen Bayou-Harris County
Check-in: Clear Lake High School, 2929 Bay Area Blvd.
Contact: Steve Moncla, 409-789-5717 (daytime), 281-291-8641 (evening) - Bolivar Peninsula-Galveston County
Check-in: Chamber of Commerce, 1760 Hwy. 87 at Crystal Beach, about 11 miles from ferry landing
Contact: Joyce Kennedy, 409-684-2992 or Susan Free, 409-684-3721 - League City-Galveston County
Check-in: Walter Hall Park at the boat ramp, Hwy. 3
Contact: Rex Ward, 281-910-8774 - Galveston Island-Galveston County (market site)
Check-in: Menard Park, 27th & Seawall Blvd.
Contact: Gary Schero, 409-762-3363 - Surfside-Brazoria County
Check-in: Stahlman Park, C.R. 257 (Bluewater Hwy.)
Contact: Denise Grier, Brazoria County Parks Department, 979-864-1541 (office), 979-236-4968 (cell) - Quintana, Bryan Beach-Brazoria County
Check-in: Quintana Beach County Park, 5th St.
Contact: Rich Tillman, 979-864-1564, X112 or Sandra Smith, 979-864-1564, ext. 112 - Sargent Beach, Bay City-Matagorda County
Check-in: Sargent Beach entrance
Contact: Lamar Brown, 979-244-8806 or Jim Freeman, 979-245-4281 - Matagorda Beach-Matagorda County
Check-in: Matagorda Jetty Park
Contact: Peggy Stanley, 979-863-2920, 979-216-6016 (cell)
