In 2020, the world was faced with a global pandemic that changed the lives of many. Not only did California suffer from COVID-19 (some may say the worst at a point), but also faced massive budget cuts and rampant fires. 2020 will have lasting impacts on our families, communities, and state parks. This is why Earth Day cannot come soon enough! Now that we are in a better place in our state, with increasing numbers being vaccinated and COVID cases at its all time lowest, many volunteer centers are opening up – just in time for Earth Day! Read more below to see how you can get involved this month and the lasting impacts you will bring from volunteering.
Earth Day Volunteering – Surfrider Foundation & Heal the Bay
In addition to some virtual volunteering, which can be found here, the first event that you can participate in at your leisure is a beach cleanup! The Surfrider Foundation and Heal the Bay are the two most popular beach clean up volunteer events held in Los Angeles. However, due to COVID-19, all events are cancelled.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t participate on your own. In fact, the Surfrider Foundations advises you to continue with your solo and single-family beach clean up events and prep’s you with all you need to know here.
When things calm down some more with COVID-19, you can count on Heal the Bay and The Surfrider Foundation to be back in action! Both foundations host public beach cleanups each month at various locations throughout LA County. Through their programs, they help volunteers understand the impacts of our throwaway society and a convenience culture built on single-use plastics. An estimated 10 million metric tons of plastic enters the ocean each year, the equivalent of one garbage truck load per minute! Participating this Earth Day on a beach cleanup, even if its just in passing on a relaxing beach day, will have lasting impacts on our environment!
Earth Day Volunteering – Tree People
An organization that you can actually participate in as a group this Earth Day is through Tree People. Tree People inspires and supports the people of LA to come together to plant and care for trees, harvest the rain, and renew depleted landscapes.
This Saturday (4/17/2021) Tree People and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in the beautiful San Francisquito Canyon of the Angeles National Forest will be holding an event for those who sign up to restore the area of the woodlands damaged by the Copper Fire. Volunteers will be asked to care for the native chaparral plants which provide deer, coyotes, and others with food and shelter. To sign up for this event, click here.
Another great event to participate on Earth Day is the L.A. River Greenway Trail with Tree People. On Earth Day, 4/22/2021, volunteers will be caring for this newly planted woodland which increases rainwater capture, cleans water draining to the ocean, bolsters air quality, lowers wildfire risk and heals fractured habitat connectivity for Los Angeles County. Sign up here for next weeks event, and to find even more events that fit your schedule! Tree People is open and operating on multiple days each week!
A Note From Stephen White
Thank you for doing your part to help our planet. Earth Day is an amazing way to come together with your community to clean up our towns and continue to make California the best state to live in! Make sure to tag @StephenWhiteRe on Instagram so we can see your Earth Day stories! The best Earth Day volunteer story will have a chance to win a White Luxury Homes prize! If you are in the market to buy or sell your home after you’re finished volunteering, give your local realtor a call for assistance! Thank you and Happy Volunteering!
