Across the Carolinas and Virginia, Surfrider southeast chapters took part in hitting the beaches for the Dirtiest Beach Day of the Year - the weekend after the Fourth of July.
Volunteers joined chapters all over the country, and in the southeast region Virginia, Outer Banks, Bogue Banks, Grand Strand and Charleston all held opportunities for folks to get out and care for the beaches after the large holiday.
Throughout the region, the chapters engaged over 150 volunteers and collected over 380 lbs of trash. Some of the most common items found are the common culprits; cigarette butts, plastic straws, and plastic bottles/caps.
In addition to trashed beaches, this holiday brought about some additional challenges with the looming threat of Tropical Storm Chantal targeting the Carolinas throughout the weekend. Unfortunately, the weather caused the Cape Fear Chapter to cancel their cleanup, however everyone else was able to pull through with some gaps in the weather. Ensuring that everyone stayed safe, and that trash was pulled from the beaches before large rains came through.
Up and down the coast, chapters engaged with other community organizations and local businesses to expand the reach of the impact. Kitty Hawk Kites joined the Outer Banks Chapter, and the Charleston Chapter teamed up with local orgs like The Flow Co and shes on edge, and local Ocean Friendly Restaurant, Cuda Co.
Special shoutout to all of the Southeast chapter leaders who took off from their holiday celebrations to lead the charge in their communities and plan these events!