Submitted by Jessica Stahl.

On Saturday, July 19, community members and visitors alike are invited to roll up their sleeves for a good cause: protecting Orcas Island’s beloved beaches from microplastic pollution.

The cleanup will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Eastsound Waterfront Park and is part of the second Annual Beach Cleanup Series hosted by The Exchange and organized by the Zero Waste Committee.

This is the second event in the summer series created and led by Asifa Pasin, who was inspired to take action after discovering microplastics accumulating on this very beach.

“When I first noticed the microplastic problem on this particular beach several years ago,” says Pasin, “I thought this would be an excellent classroom environment and a creative way to educate community members and visitors about microplastics and the negative effect it has on our wildlife, marine life, and us humans.”

Cleanup supplies will be provided, and everyone is welcome — just bring a friend, your curiosity and a desire to help keep our shorelines clean and our ecosystems thriving. Whether you’re a longtime local or just passing through, this is a great opportunity to connect with the community, learn about the microplastics issue and make a visible difference right here at home.

Join us on July 19, and mark your calendars now for the final cleanup of the summer on Aug. 23. Come enjoy the beauty of Eastsound, pitch in and be part of the solution.

For questions or more information, contact Jessica Ardis, jessica.ardis2@gmail.com.