“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

On January 17, 2026, we welcomed more than 200 incredible volunteers from around the Bay Area at our annual Beach Cleanup & Planting event at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Our team is always humbled by how many people of all ages come out to do their part to protect and preserve the coast on this special day. Thank you to everyone who took time out of their morning to join us!

MLK Beach Cleanup Results

The morning started off strong with 82 volunteers at our 2-hour Linda Mar Beach Cleanup. They searched the sand and picked over the parking lots for microplastics, discarded debris, and toxic cigarette butts left behind. Many volunteers filled multiple buckets of trash and were determined to leave the beach much cleaner than when they arrived.

Plus, some unusual finds were collected that left us scratching our heads:

• Backpack filled with fireworks
• Heavy canister of Miami Magic culinary nitrous oxide
• Large silk flower arrangement
• Shredded rubber tire
• Two full bottles of body lotion
• Various sizes of wood scraps

Together, we collected:

• 145 pounds of landfill trash
• 5 pounds of recyclables
• 1,352 cigarette butts

MLK Habitat Restoration Results

The morning continued with a 3-hour habitat restoration along the beloved Pacifica-Rockaway coastal trail. Did you know, a portion of the trail has been dedicated to PBC’s former president, Lynn Adams, who retired at the end of 2025? The sign is coming soon so keep an eye out for it the next time you’re biking, running, or walking the trail.

A total of 119 volunteers banded together to pull hundreds of pounds of invasive oxalis weeds, which were repurposed as mulch. We also planted hundreds of native plant species, marked them with flags, and watered the delicate yet hearty seedlings.

Planting seedlings this time of year gives them a chance to soak up the winter rains and take root for the best chance of long-term survival. As this native habitat grows and transforms over time, it attracts local wildlife such a bees, butterflies, birds, snakes, and small critters that depend on a safe place to live and nutritious food sources to thrive.

Here’s what we accomplished:

• 376 native plants planted
• 400 pounds of green waste (weeds/compost) removed
• 200 square yards mulched

Couldn’t make it to the MLK beach planting and habitat restoration?

That’s no problem! We offer 10 beach cleanups and 3 habitat restorations each month. Volunteers of all ages can participate, and you don’t need any special skills or experience. Be sure to sign up online in advance. We can’t wait to see you this year!