Volunteers needed for Toms River Spring Beach Sweep

Toms River officials say they need citizens and groups to participate in the 29th Annual Spring Beach Sweeps on Saturday.

The event, slated for 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., is open to volunteers of all ages, either individually or groups of businesses, families, and organizations.

The Toms River Public Works Department is providing gloves, bags and plastic buckets using funds received from the Clean Communities Grant.  All debris collected will be disposed of by Public Works.  Wawa is donating drinks for volunteers (water and juice). Shop Rite will be providing bagels.

Toms River residents can help clean the beaches and collect information on debris at two locations:

·       Third Avenue in Ortley Beach

·       Brown's Wood Preserve (meet at Barnegat Bay Partnership Office: 117 Haines Road Toms River, NJ 08753)

“The beach sweeps provide our residents with an opportunity to help preserve our shores and learn about the harmful effects of environmental pollution on our everyday lives. Let’s all help keep Toms River, Ortley Beach beautiful and the marine life healthy,” said Council President Maria Maruca.

Clean Ocean Action's Beach Sweeps started in 1985 with just 75 volunteers. Since then, over 100,000 volunteers have collected information on over 5 million pieces of trash from the Jersey shore.

Last year, volunteers collected, tallied and removed over 350,000 pieces of debris, the majority of which was disposable plastic, from New Jersey’s beaches.

The results of the Spring Beach Sweeps will be available in a few months and will be included in an annual report to be released next spring.

IF YOU GO

Check in starts at 9 a.m., RAIN OR SHINE

Participants should wear gloves, dress for the weather, apply sunscreen, and wear closed-toed, hard-soled shoes.

Volunteers are asked to pre-register by using the online sign-up form at www.CleanOceanAction.org.   You can also sign up by calling Dorothy Alexander at the Toms River Public Works Department at (732) 255 1000, X 8187.