On Sunday, August 6, 2023, a team of 30 volunteers from the International WeLoveU Foundation acted to clean and enhance Leonardo Beach in Leonardo, New Jersey. The group cleaned .30 miles and filled up 16 garbage bags weighing a total of 160 pounds.

The event is part of WeLoveU’s Oceans and Waterways Cleanup campaign that honors the UN’s Decade on Ecosystem Restoration declaration. WeLoveU aims to restore ecosystems affected by plastic pollution by cleaning waterways along the East Coast. Cleaning alongside the volunteers were Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger and Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn. The pair presented a citation to the Foundation for the volunteer’s efforts at Leonardo Beach.

“To tell you that we are excited to have you here and that you chose our little slice of heaven here is an understatement,” said Assemblyman Scharfenberger. “This is important for these people in the area because they live and die for this beach. To have you here to help them clean it, maintain it, and beautify it means more than I can put into words.”

Plastic pollution has become a worldwide problem severely impacting the marine ecosystem. Every year, approximately 8 million tons of plastic waste are dumped into the ocean, posing a risk to human health, food safety and exacerbating climate change.

The event also garnished the attention and participation of residents. The local girl scouts group joined in on the cleanup as well. The cleanup helped the community realize the positive outcome of working together as a team.

“I think we do a lot when we work together. If we try to do everything individually in an individualized way, little will get done,” stated Assemblywoman Flynn. The Oceans and Waterways cleanup led the community to understand plastic’s harmfulness better.