Volunteers are signing up now for the nation’s biggest coastal cleanup on Saturday, September 23rd.The 2017 Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Fall Cleanup takes place at 31 sites coast-wide. Volunteers can sign up online at www.TexasAdoptABeach.org or show up on-site Saturday morning to take part in a fun-filled day at the beach that makes a difference.
“Sign up now to join forces with thousands of other Texans who want to help keep our beaches safe and clean,” said Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush. “Marine debris hurts tourism and kills wildlife, but it’s a problem we can fix together. Come out and be a part of the solution on Saturday, September 23rd.”
Who: Thousands of Texans who care about the coast
What: GLO Adopt-A-Beach Fall Cleanup
When: Saturday, September 23rd
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
Clean up will be from 9 a.m. to noon
Where: 31 sites coast-wide:
• 3 sites in the Beaumont area
• 5 sites in the Houston and Galveston area
• 2 sites in the Freeport area
• 3 sites in the Bay City area
• 4 sites in the Victoria area
• 11 sites in the Coastal Bend
• 3 sites in the Rio Grande Valley
The Texas Adopt-A-Beach program began in the fall of 1986, when 2,800 volunteers picked up 124 tons of trash. Since then, more than half a million volunteers have removed more than 9,495 tons of trash from Texas beaches. Each volunteer will be given data cards, gloves, pencils and trash bags. All volunteers are advised to wear closed-toe shoes, bring sunscreen and plenty of drinking water. The Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach cleanups are held rain or shine!
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.
The 2017 Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Fall Cleanup is sponsored by Apache, Schlumberger, Murphy Oil & Exploration Company, Flint Hills Resources, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Ocean Conservancy (in-kind sponsor).
Everyone who signs up online and checks in at their cleanup location will be entered to win a RTIC soft pack 20 can cooler or one of three 64-ounce stainless steel bottles. The random drawing will take place after the cleanup. Winners will be contacted directly.
And don’t forget, now you can support the Texas coast all year by purchasing the official Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach specialty license plate. For every plate sale, the Adopt-A-Beach program receives a direct benefit that will help the program continue to grow, reduce litter on Texas beaches, and provide coastal environmental education to our youth. The plate costs just $30 in addition to regular vehicle fees, with $22 used to support the Texas coastline. Personalized plates are also available for an extra $40. In addition, the cost of purchasing the plate is considered a tax-deductible donation from you.
To learn more about the Adopt-A-Beach program, visit TexasAdoptABeach.org or contact the GLO at 1-877-TXCOAST. Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/TexasAdoptABeach or follow us on Twitter @TXAdoptABeach.
