By: Noelle Lambert
April’s Charity of the Month is:
Operation S.P.L.A.S.H.
Operation S.P.L.A.S.H. is a non-profit volunteer ran organization that is committed to improving the quality of life on Long Island Shores. Their mission is to provide a low cost solution to the growing problem of waterfront pollution through public awareness, community action and your participation. S.P.L.A.S.H. stands for Stop Polluting, Littering and Save Harbors.
This organization holds Beach, Bay and Waterway Clean-Ups and operates several other projects such as Street Storm Drains, Ocean-Bay Water Exchange, No Wake Zones, Clean Marina Program, Youth Education Programs and more.
They have successfully rescued 2,498,267 pounds of trash from our waters! Also, aside from collecting trash they also have had an amazing impact on the amount of sewage being dumped in our bays. To reduce the flow of trash into our bays, they have collaborated on the funding and installation of more than 4,000 street storm drain inserts in Nassau County.
Operation S.P.L.A.S.H. works diligently to partner with industry businesses, non-profits, government agencies and academic institution’s striving to promote comprehensive understanding of local water quality issues, through hands-on training, identification and problem solving.
Last week I featured some boat cleaning tips that I received from Operation S.P.L.A.S.H. and this week I would like to mention an important issue that I learned more about from their President.
This topic is the common act of releasing balloons into the air. Balloons are a type of marine debris that many people don’t tend to think about. Balloons are frequently accidentally or even intentionally released into the environment and once they go up, they must also come down. A very sad reality is that many times balloons are found in the stomachs of dead marine mammals.
Balloons and their ribbons are in the top 5 items of marine debris found on beach clean-ups, and Operation S.P.L.A.S.H. volunteers have removed 6,179 balloons from our South Shore Bays and Beaches over the last 4 years.
If you would like to volunteer at a Bay or Beach Clean-Up Event, please email operationsplash@optonline.net or call (516) 378-4770 to see when their next clean-up will be.
Additionally, the following volunteer positions are currently still available: Boat Crew Members and Boat Maintenance and Repair Members. Donations are also needed for Fuel, Insurance, Clean-Up Supplies and Boat Maintenance.
It has been a pleasure featuring Operation S.P.L.A.S.H. and all they do. Together we can continue to better our waterways and shorelines, making them more clean and safe, which will make Long Island an even better place to live!
Another Organization You Can Get Involved With:
Coastal Steward Long Island
www.CoastalSteward.org
Coastal Steward Long Island works to preserve and protect Long Island’s precious marine environment through education, preservation and restoration. On this Saturday, April 27th, they will be partnering with the Long Island Beach Buggy Association and holding a beach cleanup at Smith Point County Park in Shirley from 9AM-3PM. The LIBBA will be putting on a BBQ for those who attend! If you want to attend, please email info@coastalsteward.org to register. Additionally, Coastal Steward is the chosen organization that will be benefiting from Roux Associates 8th Annual Fundraiser! Held on Friday, May 10th from 7PM-10PM at Croxley Ale House in Farmingdale, this event will consist of appetizers, a buffet, an open bar, raffles and more! All who attend must purchase a ticket for the event. Please visit their website for additional information.
If you would like your organization to be featured in this column, please email Noelle@SouthBaysNeighbor.com!
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