May 9 Cleanup: Still Showing Up

May 9, 2026 | Alameda Shoreline AP exam week. Finals around the corner. We knew this cleanup would be smaller — and it was. But here's what matters: people still came.

Post-Cleanup Reflection

Exam season hit hard this month — AP tests, finals, the whole gauntlet. We knew May would be a smaller turnout, and it was.

The students who made it out? We're grateful you were there. No expectations, just appreciation for choosing to spend your Saturday morning with us.

And to the adults who keep showing up — month after month, you're the steady heartbeat of these cleanups. It makes a difference when students see familiar faces beside them, especially the ones who've been coming since we started in 2023.

We walked the shore, filled bags, spotted those stubborn Styrofoam-filled tires wedged in the rocks (still there, as always). It was good work with good people.

This is how it goes sometimes. Big cleanups, small cleanups — what matters is that we keep coming back. The impact compounds when you show up consistently, not just when it's convenient.

Thank you to everyone who came. See you next month, same time, same place.

Thank You to Our Partners

• CASA (Citizens Alliance for a Sustainable Alameda)
• DOER Marine
• All student and family volunteers