CLEAN OCEAN ACTION’S WAVES OF ACTION DAY
Connecting Volunteers with Community Needs “For The
Shore”
Long-Term Region-Wide Hurricane Relief Program Begins
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Atlantic Highlands, NJ – In response to the
devastation caused by Super-Storm Sandy, it is clear that the need for
volunteers is growing, Clean Ocean Action has launched a long term
volunteer initiative to help the communities and millions of citizens left
devastated in the wake of Sandy. Starting December 8th, and
regularly thereafter, COA will connect community needs throughout the NJ/NY
region with the volunteers willing to help through a program called “Waves of
Action.” Projects and volunteers register for December 8th's first Wave of
Action on a newly developed website www.ForTheShore.org.
“What Sandy destroyed in 48 hours will take months and years
to fix. We established the Waves of Action program to provide a
longer-term, sustainable strategy to help heal our coastal communities and
protect the quality of our region’s ocean,” stated Cindy Zipf, Clean Ocean
Action Executive Director, “we hope to help communities go green to save
big blue.”
As we stand tall and pull together to recover and rebuild
our own homes and lives, many are also donating time for neighbors and
communities. Added Lisa Cordova, Clean Ocean Action Volunteer and
Event Committee Member, “since the storm, a surge of volunteers is one of
the top needs for coastal communities.”
“In the aftermath of Sandy, volunteers are ready and eagerly
looking to help. Many of the impacted municipalities, businesses, and families
are working hard to put their pieces together and may not have the time or
energy to recruit and/or direct volunteers,” said Tavia Danch, Clean Ocean
Action Education Coordinator. “Clean Ocean Action is organizing the
day of service ‘For the Shore’ to streamline the process of connecting people
with projects.”
Starting Saturday, December 8, COA organized the first state-wide
“waves of action” days where COA’s network of organizations, businesses,
citizens and municipalities from Cape May to Montauk - along the Jersey Shore
and the South Shore of Long Island - are identifying and implementing projects
that are needed within coastal communities.
Clean Ocean Action has already organized many projects
throughout Jersey Shore towns for the first Wave of Action on Saturday,
December 8 including, Sea Bright, Long Branch, Toms River, Seaside Park,
Atlantic City, and Cape May. Projects are also sprouting up across New
York from Jones Beach to Hampton Bays.
"This is a great opportunity for people to make a real
impact in Sea Bright,” said Frank Lawrence, Sea Bright Volunteer
Coordinator, “restoring our shore communities will take a concerted effort
over many months, and we look forward to working with Clean Ocean Action
starting on the 8th.”
Types of projects include: beach, town, and park clean-ups;
food, household items, and furniture drives; fundraisers for wildlife and communities
in need; and/or home clean out and repair. The projects vary based on
real, on the ground needs. Over 500 volunteers have already signed
up to participate, but Clean Ocean Action is calling for more volunteers and
more projects to generate the most help.
Saturday, December 8 is the first Wave of Action to help
with the initial recovery from the devastation caused by Sandy, but there will
is a long journey forward to rebuild. With this in mind, Clean Ocean
Action will continue long-term Waves of Action in the future to help implement
a vision of sustainability—restoring better, greener, and bluer coasts.
To register for a project or sign up to volunteer, visit www.fortheshore.org or contact Clean Ocean
Action at (732) 872-0111.
