On Sunday, June 25, 2023, 40 volunteers from the International WeLoveU Foundation collected approximately 200 pounds of trash and debris from Patuxent Wetlands Park in Lothian, MD. Within two hours, the park and nearby street looked cleaner and more welcoming as surprised and thankful visitors arrived to kayak and fish.

The park’s wetland is a part of the Patuxent River, which feeds into the Chesapeake Bay. Wetlands are vital ecosystems that serve as a home for hundreds of plant, animal, and fish species. The wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay also play a crucial role in maintaining the bay’s water quality by trapping excess sediment and nutrients from entering the bay’s water. The wetlands also prevent soil erosion and flooding of the nearby communities; however, many wetlands are threatened and damaged by pollution, which disrupts the ocean’s ecosystem.

Due to the park’s proximity to a highway and the high volume of visitors, the park is often lined with litter and debris. During the cleanup, many volunteers found several discarded car parts, tiles, paint buckets, bottles, cigarette butts, wrappers, and cans in the trees near the water. The volunteers also took preventative action by cleaning the nearby street to prevent the trash from blowing into the wetlands. By removing the trash and debris, the WeLoveU volunteers helped preserve and protect the wetlands from further pollution and damage.

An Anne Arundel County police officer who assisted with the cleanup efforts thanked the volunteers for all their help. The southernmost part of Anne Arundel County can often seem forgotten. However, WeLoveU’s presence reminded the community that the community is loved and cared for. The WeLoveU Maryland chapter hopes the cleanup will encourage more community members to help preserve this precious resource.