On April 22, we gathered at the Del Rey Lagoon for what turned out to be one of the most impactful Earth Day events EcoServants® has hosted to date. Volunteers, families, students, and community leaders came together with a shared purpose: to honor our planet through direct action and environmental stewardship.
Thanks to the dedication and hard work of everyone who attended, we successfully removed 314.3 pounds of litter from the beaches, wetlands, and lagoon. This included a range of debris — plastic bottles, aluminum cans, tangled fishing lines, and other refuse polluting our vital coastal ecosystem.
One particularly alarming discovery was the collection of over 20 pounds of tar along the shoreline. This dense, sticky substance is likely the result of natural oil seepage from beneath the ocean floor — a phenomenon exacerbated by offshore drilling and coastal erosion. Tragically, this tar was found clinging to jellyfish and other marine life, trapping them in its toxic grip. Encounters like this remind us that cleanup efforts do more than beautify a space — they offer direct protection to vulnerable species caught in the wake of pollution.
These efforts would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors. We extend our sincere gratitude to Electrotec Audio, DJ Amora, Fisher Liberty Gold, Therapy LA, Seneca Sites, The Jacks of Groove, Arbor Collective, and Rock-it Cargo. Your contributions amplified our message and helped create a vibrant, engaging experience for all participants.
Events like these demonstrate the power of community-driven action. While Earth Day offers a symbolic moment of unity, our mission continues year-round. Litter and industrial pollutants don’t disappear overnight, and neither will our commitment to removing them. With each cleanup, we not only restore the landscape — we also foster a deeper understanding of how human activity affects the ecosystems that sustain us.
We encourage everyone who participated — and those who couldn’t make it — to take the next step. Sign up to become an EcoServant at
https://ecoservantsproject.org/volunteer-intake and join a global network of environmental advocates taking action in their communities.
Document your cleanup efforts through our Community Site Report (CSR) tool at
https://esp-university.earth/csr to track your impact and earn your place on the EcoServants Wall of Fame — a tribute to everyday environmental heroes.
If you’d like to help power future cleanups and educational outreach, consider making a tax-deductible donation today at
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/75208d1b-3519-4371-9c49-e3eb7c859f37. Your support fuels our mission and directly contributes to cleaner coastlines, restored habitats, and empowered communities.
Let’s carry this momentum forward. Together, we can turn one day of action into a lifetime of change.