Seaside, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined thousands of volunteers along the Oregon coast and participated in SOLV’s annual spring beach clean-up. Senator Merkley met with volunteers and helped pick up debris and trash along the Seaside beach in an effort to promote Oregon’s natural beauty and highlight the need for clean water and beaches.
“It was great to get out here on the Oregon coast this morning to support the great work of SOLV and their commitment to Oregon’s natural beauty,” Merkley said. “It is so important to me to make sure that we keep this beautiful state in pristine condition for our children and grandchildren.”
The first SOLV all-volunteer beach cleanup was held in Oregon in 1984 and has spread to all 50 states and nearly 100 countries around the world. In 2008, nearly 400,000 volunteers picked up 6.8 million pounds of trash from nearly every major body of water worldwide.
SOLV is a non-profit organization that brings together government agencies, businesses and individual volunteers in programs and projects to enhance the livability of Oregon. SOLV annually provides resources to more than 250 Oregon communities, focusing on cleanup, native planting, invasive plant removal and environmental maintenance projects. SOLV creates an average of 50,000 volunteer opportunities across the state.
“As a U.S. Senator for Oregon, I believe strongly in making sure that our beaches stay clean and our water remains free of pollution and debris,” Merkley said. “Oregon has a very proud history as one of only two states where the land is publicly owned from the ocean right up to the vegetation line. Today’s event refreshes that special bond between Oregonians and their beaches. And it is a terrific reminder of the importance of volunteering and pitching in to help our communities.”
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