More than 1,000 volunteers participated in a beach cleanup throughout Martin County on Saturday as part of the International Coastal Cleanup.
Keep Martin Beautiful is the local coordinator of the International Coastal Cleanup. The nonprofit volunteer-based community action organization was founded in 1994 as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.
County volunteers participated at 28 locations, including Stuart Beach, Hobe Sound Beach, Jensen Beach, Jensen Causeway, Bob Graham Beach, Sandsprit Park, and Indian Riverside Park.
Keep Martin Beautiful said the cleanup helps protect birds and marine life by reducing the likelihood that these creatures will become injured or entangled in plastics or ingest deadly debris. Linda Emerson said at Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island that by picking up pieces of plastic, volunteers can realize how much they are using in their own lives and choose to make a difference.