West Sand Island beach cleanup helps raise funds for children’s books

Published 11:58 am Tuesday, May 8, 2018

PACIFIC COUNTY — Community donors are pledging donations in proportion to the amount of beach trash collected from Sand Island at a May 12 event.

This is a dual-purpose project. At its root the purpose is to raise money for children’s books to be given out freely to elementary students at the start of summer break. Summer reading habits are a significant factor in a child’s literacy and their academic success. Simply providing children with summer reading material has proven to help with this common problem. That is why Long Beach and Ocean Park Elementary Schools have given 10 books to every student at the end of the school year the last two years.

“At the same time, the other purpose of this project is to take responsibility for our natural environment,” organizers said. “Sand Island has beaches that feel a world away on a sunny day. It’s quite peaceful. Yet human presence has become quite evident with the passing of time and the accumulation of our waste — bottles, broken floats, wrappers, lighters and other trash. So let’s clean it up.”

Dan Schenk, the Pacific County Marine Resource Committee, Cape Disappointment State Park and many other people have given their time, thoughts, and logistical and financial support to get this project rolling. Volunteers are plentiful. There will be at least 20 people working on May 12.

“So please — help our kids, help our natural environment; help us succeed by pledging to donate just 5-cents per pound of collected beach garbage. No donation is too small. Cap the donation wherever you need to. Remember, it goes to putting books into the hands of children,” organizers said.

For more information or to pledge your support, contact Nathan Moore of Washington Reading Corps at 360-244-2335 or via email at nathan.moore@oceanbeachschools.org.