In the year 1970, millions of university students and environmental community members came together in the form of educational marches and rallies in efforts to bring environmental issues to the top of our nation’s priority list. Their success led to the very first Earth Day and the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency — thus, kick-starting the first of many environmental protection acts, such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. Since, Earth Day has been celebrated annually on April 22 to raise awareness about the threats our beloved planet faces and inspire action towards protecting and conserving the environment. Organizations and activists around the world, focused on a common purpose to restore and protect the planet, come together to spark major action and demonstrate that our voice matters.
In honor of Earth Day, the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program (MSCCP) is hosting an Earth Day Celebration Cleanup on Saturday, April 24, 2021 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the I.G. Levy Memorial Park in Pascagoula.
A member of the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Team will be there to provide cleanup supplies, such as gloves, bags, buckets, trash grabbers and data collection materials. We highly encourage volunteers to bring their own reusable gloves if they have a pair and a bucket for easy trash collection. Volunteers will be keeping a tally of the trash they pick up throughout the cleanup in efforts to obtain data on the types of trash we are finding in the area. This data helps us gather valuable information to help prevent future litter and educate the public. Bring a family member or two - cleanups are fun when done as a group effort! After the cleanup, volunteers can enter into a raffle for a kayak and the winner will be announced shortly after the event concludes.
If you are curious as to how a cleanup works, check out this short and sweet video about how to participate in a cleanup.
We would like to thank the City of Pascagoula for supporting the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program in this event. The MSCCP would not be possible without our generous sponsors and supporters including Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, Chevron, NOAA, Ocean Conservancy, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. We look forward to continuing this event and including supportive organizations each year in efforts to spread environmental awareness and outreach! If your organization would like to be a part of this celebration next year, please reach out to our program coordinator Mandy Sartain at [email protected].
Visit mscoastalcleanup.org for contacts and more program information. There is still time to sign up of the Earth Day Celebration Cleanup! Click here to sign up.
Spring Reading
A wonderful work of literature titled “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson captivated the public, raising awareness and concerns for the environment. This is a wonderful springtime read to enjoy outside with some South Mississippi sweet tea!
“We love the earth, it is our planet. We love the earth, it is our home…”
Meet the author
Mandy Rigsby
Ecotourism and Stewardship Specialist
As part of our Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium Engagement Team, Mandy Rigsby works with nature-based tourism businesses to connect visitors to local nature and its wildlife. She also... Read more
Phone: 228-546-1020
Email: [email protected]