Thanks so much to the dozens and dozens of people who participated in the Great Islands Cleanup, and/or the Earth Day Celebration last month!

On Saturday, April 20, 95 people volunteered to pick up trash all over Orcas. By the end of the event, we had collected 1,940 pounds of garbage, 440 pounds of separated recyclables, and cleaned up almost 47 miles of roads and beaches!

Special thanks to Island Market for its awesome support for the event, and for sponsoring a team challenge that netted a $1,000 donation to The Exchange. We also want to shout out to the 30-plus member team ‘Crow Valley Posse’, lead by Ginger Moore and Nancy Schafer, who brought in 840 pounds of trash, and ‘won’ the challenge for The Exchange! Thanks also to Jami Plummer and Island Hoppin’ Brewery for the best part of the day—the after party!

Nearly three tons of trash (5,960 lbs) was picked up this year on Orcas, San Juan, Lopez, Shaw and Henry islands. Thanks to Mark Herrenkohl and San Juan County Public Works for supporting the Clean Up County-wide.

The day after the clean-up witnessed the first-annual Earth Day Festival at the Orcas Center. Our thanks to everyone that attended, and especially everyone who came together to help organize and participate in this event.

So many generous contributors donated incredible items for the silent auction. The food vendors were outstanding, the artwork was beyond creative, and the demonstrations and presenters were informative and insightful.

The Trashion-Fashion Show was the grand finale and was a huge hit. Thanks to DJ Charlie Eon, all our awesome models and community celebs that helped out!

Special thanks to OIHS graduating senior/event assistant Chela Mohler, and extra special thanks to ORS/Exchange board members Asifa Pasin and Marta Nielson who organized this awesome first-time event.

See you in late September for the Fall Great Islands Clean-up, and next spring for the second annual Earth Day Fest!

Pete Moe

Executive Director, ORS/The Exchange