On Thursday, June 26, 2025, more than 50 volunteers from the World Mission Society Church of God gathered at Punta Salinas Beach in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Starting early in the morning, they moved along the sand with gloves and trash bags, collecting plastic waste as part of the global Erasing Plastic Footprints campaign.
Making a Difference at Punta Salinas
Punta Salinas is a popular public beach known for its calm waters and scenic views. Families often visit for picnics, swimming, and watching the sunset. It’s also home to local wildlife, including seabirds and small coastal species that are easily affected by pollution. That’s why volunteers focused not only on visible litter but also smaller pieces of plastic hidden among the rocks and seaweed.
Families, students, and adults from all walks of life came together with one purpose: to help remove plastic from the beach and raise awareness about its impact. By midday, they had cleared around 300 pounds of debris—everything from plastic bottles to snack wrappers—left behind by careless disposal and ocean currents.
The Impact of Plastic Pollution
The volunteers also set up simple, informative displays along the beach. These panels explained how plastic pollution affects marine life, ecosystems, and local communities. Plastic waste often breaks down into microplastics, which are eaten by fish and birds and can even end up in the food we eat. It clogs waterways, damages coastal habitats, and poses health risks to both wildlife and people. Many beachgoers stopped to read, ask questions, and reflect on how daily choices can make a difference—like carrying reusable bottles or skipping single-use packaging.
Local officials joined the event, including James Ramos, Special Assistant to the Mayor of Toa Baja, and Luis Cruz, Administrator of the Punta Salinas and Isla de Cabras Parks. Luis Cruz shared gratitude, saying, “I give thanks to the Church of God, who carried out today’s plastic cleanup—a movement that’s literally happening worldwide across all their churches. They did an exceptional job.”
To view more volunteer events, please visit the activities page.