Southern Shores to host annual clean-up event in honor of Earth Day – OBX Today


The Southern Shores community will host its annual clean-up event April 22-22, 2024. The goal is to clean up the community and, more importantly, to raise awareness of this year’s global Earth Day campaign titled, “Planet vs. Plastics.” 

The event will kick off on Saturday, at 9:00 a.m., at the Hillcrest Beach Access with a fun-filled morning. Volunteers can learn gardening tips from a Master Gardener. The Surfrider Foundation will share how they are helping to protect our oceans. OBX Tree Doc will give away free tree saplings to the first 75 volunteers. The Muse buzz and OBX Wake & Take will offer a light brunch. Home Depot will provide supplies including cloth gloves. Volunteers will be registered to win cool prizes including tickets to a VusicOBX concert and dinner for two at Steamers. Each day, there are planned activities where volunteers can help at the beaches, parks, marinas, or tennis and pickleball courts.

According to EARTHDAY.org, plastic production has now grown to more than 380 million tons per year. More than 500 billion plastic bags—one million bags per minute—were produced worldwide last year. Many plastic bags have a working life of a few minutes, followed by an afterlife of centuries. Even after plastics disintegrate, they remain as microplastics, minute particles permeating every niche of life on the planet. And 100 billion plastic beverage containers were sold last year in the United States. That’s more than 300 bottles per inhabitant.

Southern Shores is a community that is united by a love of the ocean and volunteerism, and the unique opportunities that life offers on a barrier island. Each April, the community looks forward to gathering to honor Earth Day and support environmental protection. 

Organized by The Southern Shores Civic Association, Chicahauk Property Owners Association, and the Town of Southern Shores, this event is also supported by Amy’s Candles, Dare County Extension Master Gardeners, Home Depot, OBX Tree Doc, Steamers, The Surfrider Foundation, and VusicOBX.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Aida Alvarez at coordinator@sscaobx.org or visit https://www.sscaobx.org