Orange County Coastkeeper and Bob Hope USO will host a two-hour beach cleanup this Saturday to remove trash brought to the beaches by recent rains and collect donations to support active duty Coast Guard members and their families, who are currently not getting paid. According to Bob Hope USO, those who want to bring donations in-person should consider: gift cards for grocery stores and gas stations; diapers, formula, baby wipes; toiletries.
“Our Coast Guard members are doing 100 percent of their jobs protecting boaters, executing search and rescue operations, keeping our waterways safe, and yet they are receiving zero percent of their pay. We are grateful to Orange County Coastkeeper and the community for recognizing the emergency need that exists and supporting our Coast Guard during this time,” said Bob Kurkjian, president of Bob Hope USO.
The fifth branch of the U.S. Armed Services, the U.S. Coast Guard is the only branch housed in the Department of Homeland Security. The ongoing government shut down has resulted in active duty members of the Coast Guard protecting Orange County’s coastline serving without pay to support themselves and their families. The U.S. Coast Guard Base Los Angeles/Long Beach on Terminal Island provides services in direct support of the Coast Guard to Southern California. Housing for active duty service members and their young families are on the USCG Base. To support the USCG active duty members and their families during this stressful period, Coastkeeper is partnering with the Bob Hope USO to accept donations through its USCG-dedicated page and before the Huntington State Beach cleanup.
WHERE: Huntington State Beach Tower 2
WHEN: Saturday, January 26, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Orange County Coastkeeper is a member of the International Waterkeeper Alliance, which has 236 different independent programs across 29 countries. Founded in 1999, the mission of Coastkeeper is to protect and promote sustainable water resources that are swimmable, drinkable, and fishable.
Coastkeeper is a nonprofit clean water organization that serves as a proactive steward of our fresh- and saltwater ecosystems. We work collaboratively with diverse groups in the public and private sectors to achieve healthy, accessible, and sustainable water resources for the region. We implement innovative, effective programs in education, advocacy, restoration, research, enforcement, and conservation. For more information, visit www.coastkeeper.org or call 714-850-1965.
