50 Participate in 'Barefoot Wine' Beach Cleanup

Some 50 people volunteered to get on their hands and knees and dig in the sand under the Long Beach boardwalk to gathering plastic bags, bottles and other debris at Saturday’s "Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project" cleanup.

Sponsored by Surfrider Foundation, a national non-profit, and Barefoot Wine, the project made its first stop in Long Beach after staging about 75 other cleanups nationwide since the partnership's inception in 2007, according to Newsday.

About the message he believes the two-hour clean up at Edward Boulevard beach sent to others, Larry Moriarity, treasurer of Surfrider's central Long Island chapter, said:

"We love our beach, and we want to keep it clean."

Following the cleanup, participants 21 and older were invited to celebrate their efforts featuring Barefoot Wine and treats at Edwards beach.

The project calls on community volunteers to participate in a local beach, lake or river cleanup, helping to keep Long Island’s shores “barefoot friendly” for all to enjoy. According to the Surfriders's website, 10 beach clean ups are scheduled, from Charleston to Honolulu to Boston, between Aug. 4 and Sept. 8. 

The Surfrider Foundation was also involved in a beach clean up that was part of the first Spring Surf Day held in Long Beach in May.