Forty volunteers from the International WeLoveU Foundation gathered in Richmond, VA’s James River Park for a cleanup. On Sunday, August 27, 2023, volunteers cleaned near the historic Belle Isle in the middle of the James River. Walking along a two-mile trail, the group collected over 70 pounds of trash. Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan and Executive Director of Friends of the James River Park Josh Stutz happily attended.

The Trail’s Importance

The cleanup is part of WeLoveU’s Oceans & Waterways Cleanup campaign. The initiative honors the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, an environmental program to restore the ecosystem by 2030. WeLoveU aims to restore ecosystems affected by plastic pollution by cleaning the total distance of the East Coast shoreline, which is nearly 2,200 miles long.

Virginia State Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan said, “Thank you to the WeLoveU Foundation for bringing this campaign here and making this happen today. Though it seems like a small deed, it can make a huge difference in our world.” She continued, “This campaign is not just about beautifying, but helping people understand how harmful littering can be to the environment.” The WeLoveU Volunteers in Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Learn About Virginia’s Balloon Pollution

In addition to cleaning, volunteers learned about balloon litter pollution. Representatives from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality set up an informational booth to discuss the topic. In Virginia, balloons are among a list of problematic types of debris. Often, balloons end up in waterways, and sea turtles mistake them for food. Learning about balloon pollution complimented the Oceans & Waterways campaign, which aims to protect sea life by cleaning up litter. The Department of Environmental Quality lists policies and laws passed to reduce plastic pollution like balloons here. Read about more Oceans & Waterways cleanups here.