May 10 Beach Cleanup Recap: Connecting, Caring & Cleaning Together
Our May 10 beach cleanup brought together connection, learning, and community spirit—all on Mother’s Day weekend.
We’re incredibly grateful to our longtime partners, DOER Marine and CASA (Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda), who show up rain or shine every second Saturday of the month to care for the coast. It’s always a joy teaming up to make an even bigger impact. We were also so excited to welcome Mr. Keith Rootsaert and his “urchinator” crew from the Giant Giant Kelp Restoration Project who brought great energy and more of those beloved sea otter plushies that everyone loves.
We were so lucky to have Liz Taylor, president of DOER Marine, join us as a guest speaker. She shared some really cool insights about the sea otter reintroduction project and helped us see how our efforts connect to real, hopeful change in the ocean. We love blending learning with action—it gives our cleanups even more purpose.
This time, we added a special touch: a wooden paddle board where volunteers could sign their names and leave messages. The board quickly filled with thoughtful notes, smiles, and doodles, becoming a memorable keepsake of a day well spent. You'll get to see the final look at our next cleanup on June 14.
We also truly appreciate the generosity of those who supported this event through donation-matching programs! Special thanks to Mr.Udar Pendyala for sponsoring our food and drinks, keeping everyone fueled and refreshed. And a heartfelt shoutout to Mr. Brian Taniguchi, for not only his kind donation, but also for the valuable advice and constant support he brings to our team.
And of course, big love to Girl Scout Troop 30508 for showing up again, the little girls are truly everyone’s sunshine! Your bright energy and helping hands light up our cleanups every time.
To everyone who showed up, thank you. Whether you picked up a bucket, signed the paddle, or just showed you cared—you helped make the coast a little cleaner and our community a lot stronger.
We can’t wait to see you again out on the sand!
Thank you, Aiden, for helping us collect debris data—you were the first to send in your screenshot, and we truly appreciate it!
What we see from just one person or one group is already a lot—it's hard to imagine how much trash is really out there. That’s why every report counts. If you took a screenshot of your data after your cleanup, please send it to us at: aquaM.foundation@gmail.com.
