NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Students from Albert Leonard Middle School in New Rochelle joined a worldwide effort to “fight for trash-free seas” on Sept. 17.
The school’s Pay It Forward Club participated in the International Coastal Cleanup, an annual service day organized by Ocean Conservancy. Students picked up debris from the beach and recorded what they found.
Founded in 1972, Ocean Conservancy is a Washington D.C.-based non-profit dedicated to “protecting the ocean from today’s greatest challenges,” chiefly, through public education, and worldwide movements dedicated to coastal litter removal. Last year, more than 18 million pounds of trash were collected by almost 800,000 volunteers, according to the Conservancy.
Sara Yeterian, the Pay It Forward Club’s faculty facilitator, said that the students enjoyed the community service. “I had to drag the kids away at the end of the day,” she said. “They didn’t want to stop cleaning.”
“This was surprisingly fun,” eighth-grader Jacob Bier said.