Volunteers throughout the San Juan Islands will get together on Saturday, Sept. 29 to participate in the third-annual Fall Great Islands Clean-Up (GICU). All over the county, volunteers will be picking up trash on roadsides, trails and beaches.
The annual spring GICU has been happening County-wide since 2014 and has collected 5.27 tons of garbage on Orcas Island alone.
The fall cleanup was introduced to the program in 2016 when organizers realized that after the rush of summer, there was plenty more trash around that needed picking up. Last Fall, 35 volunteers on Orcas collected 540 pounds of trash.
This year’s turnout is expected to be even better — Island Market has challenged every business and organization on Orcas to put together a volunteer team bigger than theirs — and with pretty high stakes.
“Bring more people than we do, and we will donate $500 to The Exchange and buy your whole team around at the (Island Hoppin’) brewery afterward,” said organizers.
“I love this event!” said San Juan County Councilman Rick Hughes. “It’s awesome how volunteers come together countywide to do this amazing service to the community.”
San Juan County Public Works helps organize the GICU and supports the event financially with grant funds from the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Bags, grabbers, safety vests and latex gloves will be available to all volunteers the day of the event on Orcas, Lopez and Shaw. San Juan Island volunteers can pick up items at the San Juan County Public Works office on Spring Street during the week before the event. The festivities will commence at 10 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m. on all islands.
Connect with your business, school, nonprofit, service or neighborhood groups, family and friends and encourage them to volunteer.
Check the Great Islands Clean-Up Facebook page, at facebook.com/thegreatislandscleanup for regular updates or contact a specific island organizer for more information. If you choose to coordinate your own group, please let the island organizer know what area you are covering.
Lopez Island organizers are Mike Moore at eroom@rockisland.com and Kirm Taylor at kirmant@gmail.com.
Shaw Island organizer is Stephanie Buffum at stephanie@sanjuans.org.
San Juan Island organizers are Catherine Kenney at ckenney@islandersbank.com, Lesley Hambleden at lesleyhambleden@gmail.com and Jana Marks (beaches) at jana@sanjuans.org.
Orcas Island organizer is Pete Moe at pete@exchangeorcas.org. Orcas volunteers will meet at the Village Green in Eastsound at 10 a.m. and are encouraged to head to Island Hoppin’ Brewery at 4 p.m. for complimentary snacks and a beer.
