LONG BEACH, Wash. – Every beach lover of the Long Beach Peninsula is encouraged to join the Grass Roots Garbage Gang’s community of volunteers in sweeping the beaches clean from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 24.

GRGG coordinators will be located at Seaview, Bolstad Avenue, Cranberry Road, Klipsan Beach, Bay Avenue in Ocean Park and Oysterville Road. They will sign volunteers in, give them supplies, direct them to the designated cleaning spot and provide guidance for collection bags disposal, courtesy of Pacific County and the city of Long Beach.

A thank-you lunch will be served to all volunteers at the Peninsula Senior Center immediately after the cleanup. Lunch donations come from Jack’s Country Store, Okie’s Sentry Supermarket, Berry Patch Restaurant and individuals that are dedicated to the community, organizer Shelly Pollock said.

Alan Rammer, marine conservation and education specialist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, will give a formal presentation on flotsam at an open house Friday, Jan. 23. For times and location, e-mail shelly@ourbeach.org. Rammer will also assemble beach litter examples and many educational materials at the volunteer lunch following the cleanup Saturday.

The Grass Roots Garbage Gang was organized in 2001 by a small group of local beach lovers interested in maintaining a clean and safe beach. To find out more about the quarterly cleanups and the group, visit www.ourbeach.org or call Pollock at (360) 665-5388.