Save Our Shores (SOS) is a small, grassroots nonprofit focused on marine conservation that delivers marine science education to youth, engages communities in stewardship activities, and promotes solutions that protect coastlines and connected communities. Our mission is to foster thriving and sustainable ecosystems in the Monterey Bay and surrounding habitats through equitable environmental action.
Each year, thousands of pounds of waste enter the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, threatening marine life, public health, and local communities. For over 40 years, Save Our Shores has led cleanup efforts with 75,000+ volunteers. Unfortunately, underserved communities living closest to polluted waterways often have the fewest opportunities for environmental leadership.
Our Big Idea is to train a new cohort of Sanctuary Stewards to lead coastal cleanups and public education events that benefit Monterey County. Sanctuary Stewards guide teams of community volunteers who remove marine debris and collect pollution data that informs policy solutions for a healthier Monterey Bay.
Your donation will help:
- Train and equip 20 bilingual Monterey County Sanctuary Stewards.
- Build a network of 100+ community volunteers to clean up Monterey County waterways.
- Safely remove 15,000+ pounds of marine debris from Monterey Bay coastal ecosystems.
- Deliver impactful coastal experiences that inspire lasting local stewardship.
We address the growing issue of coastal pollution, environmental degradation, and inequitable access to environmental education in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and surrounding counties. We consistently receive requests from Monterey residents who wish to become Sanctuary Stewards, but in-person training requires travel to our Santa Cruz office. Sanctuary Stewards who live in Monterey County are vital to our outreach, education, and cleanup activities there. Now, MC Gives! donors can remove that transportation barrier with the financial resources for Save Our Shores to conduct place-based training directly in Monterey County.
Donations will support a new cohort of Sanctuary Stewards (highly trained volunteers from any Monterey County community). Bilingual Sanctuary Stewards will attract new community members, help recruit a strong local volunteer base, host regular cleanups that directly benefit Monterey County residents and natural spaces, and create the conditions for a wider range of community members to participate in coastal stewardship.
I volunteer for Save Our Shores because I love Monterey Bay and our beautiful California coastline, and I want to protect it. I do it to help give back and take care of our amazing piece of the Central Coast.
- Jeffrey Rensel, Seaside
