CSULB students help clean up the beach

Cal State Long Beach students and campus organizations disgusted with seeing garbage on the beach now have an opportunity to clean it up with the monthly 30-minute Beach Cleanup coming Saturday at 10 a.m.

Justin Rudd, founder and organizer of the cleanup, started it because as a fitness instructor who taught on the beach he got tired of seeing trash and decided to do something about it.

Junior nutrition major Cynthia Leung enjoyed her experience at the beach cleanup. "I thought it was fun," Leung said. "I plan to do it again because I like going to the beach."

The March 18 beach clean-up was a success because 125 volunteers attended Rudd said, almost double the normal number Rudd said.

Rudd said the volunteers are treated to refreshments, door prizes and a chance to win some cash.

"For this month's cleanup we are definitely giving away $100 and that amount could end up being more," said Rudd.

The event has been ongoing since last June ,Rudd said, and more than 2000 people have already taken part in it.

Rudd's hard work has not gone unnoticed in doing his part for the environment. He has gotten an award from the Long Beach City Council.

Some of the people that have taken part in the event include: children, teen-agers, adults and college students.

"CSULB students can get community service hours if they need it," Rudd said.

Leung is one student who has taken advantage of it.

"I had to do it for a class at CSULB as part of community service hours credit."

The beach cleanup volunteers met at Granada Avenue and Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach. As part of the cleanup, gloves and bags were given to the volunteers.

Together all of the participants have collected hundreds of bags filled with garbage such as glass, Styrofoam, various packaging materials and debris, making the beaches a cleaner place to be.

Those interested in participating in the beach cleanup can call (562) 433-8454 .