Volunteers from all over the Rio Grande Valley took part in the 31st Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup on Saturday.

South Padre Island cleanup site coordinator Elaine Sanchez said she had 458 people registered to take part in the cleanup, which started at 9 a.m.

Beach Access 3 between Palm and Corral streets was abuzz with activity as volunteers lined up at the sign-in table before the start time to pick up trash bags and data cards to document what type of trash they collected.

Ricardo Garcia, a parent who attended with three National Honor Society members from Mercedes High School, said young people need to learn to engage in community service.

“This is one of the things that will teach them about beach cleanup, the ecology and what we need to do as a community to maintain our environment,” Garcia said.

By MARICELA RODRIGUEZ Staff Photographer