On Sunday, August 21, 2022, 60 volunteers of the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation partnered up with Boston Parks and Recreation to clean up Savin Hill and Malibu Beach. The beach is in Dorchester — Boston’s largest neighborhood — and is known for historic houses, trails, and sports fields. It’s an area locals know and love because they’re close to the beach and city at the same time.

Keeping Our Shoreline Clean

The Savin Hill and Malibu Beach cleanup is WeLoveU’s determination to keep the East Coast shoreline free of plastic pollution. An estimated 10 million tons of plastic are dumped into the oceans every year. The effort is part of the Oceans and Waterways Cleanups campaign that’s dedicated to reducing plastic waste, educating people about the harmful effects of pollution, and inspiring people to act to mitigate the plastic crisis.

Volunteers arrived early Sunday morning, setting up tents and panels at the beach waterfront to introduce WeLoveU to beachgoers. People were surprised to learn about WeLoveU’s campaigns and volunteerism. One resident left their home to greet the volunteers and said, “This is fantastic! We thank you, guys, for what you’re doing. I have more hope for our environment now that you guys are here.”

Afterward, volunteers sprung into action, dividing into teams and targeting different parts of the beach. The temperatures reached above 90 degrees as the sun beamed down through the clear sky. The volunteers endured the heat, smiling as they removed the trash from hard-to-reach places along the trails and tall grass. By noon, they gathered almost 2,000 pounds of trash, which included rusted metals and a large dead tree.

Dorchester residents continued showing their appreciation. A local named Victoria said, “I love that you guys came out here today, especially volunteering for Dorchester. I want more non-profits to come here; Dorchester needs it. You guys are doing great work.” This was WeLoveU’s second summer cleanup this year, and each cleanup has helped the community greatly.