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At first, Rudd relied on word of mouth to gather volunteers for the event, asking friends to bring their friends and so forth. Once the cleanup gained more traction, Rudd would send out emails to hundreds of individuals, asking for their participation each month, something still does today.<\/p>\n
Since the cleanup\u2019s inception, thousands of volunteers, including children, have mobilized to help and together they\u2019ve removed thousands of bags of litter from the sandy shore. In that time, Rudd and volunteers have seen some bizarre discards, most of which have washed up from the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone in our clean up found a dead chicken and a goat’s head,\u201d he recalled. \u201cWe\u2019ve found shopping carts from Target in the water, a red fire extinguisher, tires, footballs and basketballs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rudd has worked to keep the cleanup as open and accessible as possible by keeping the event short\u2014just 30 minutes long\u2014and open to all ages. And providing free parking, volunteer credit and refreshments (usually lemonade and chocolate chip cookies donated by local businesses) have helped ensure the path of least, litter pickup resistance.<\/p>\n
Despite 20 years of successful cleanup events with dozens of faithful regulars, Rudd says he still works to find ways to entice new faces to volunteer. Hosting light-hearted competitions that begin shortly after each pickup session, he says, is one way.<\/p>\n
This month, Rudd is hosting a singing competition, in which participants will sing a few lines from the national anthem. He and several of the Miss Long Beach title holders will vote on a winner who will be awarded a $1,000 contract to sing the anthem at all other of his CAT events through next June.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will bring some people who wouldn’t regularly have ever thought of coming to the beach cleanup,\u201d he said. \u201cBut now these singers are going to come, so it’s a different audience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since moving to Long Beach 22 years ago, the Belmont Heights denizen has been involved in nearly every community event the city looks most forward to, like the Bulldog Beauty Contest and the Turkey Trot. But despite all the parties, events, and competitions Rudd has brought to life, his 30-minute beach cleanup is the one he looks forward to most fondly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like helping people. I think when people come and volunteer they discover how good and satisfying it is to help,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople feel good and they come back.\u201d<\/p>\n