Blue Velvet is based in Austin, Texas. Although we strive to raise awareness and educate on ocean pollution in the United States, we also try and support our local community whenever we can. 

It’s time to get ready for Austin’s bi-annual cleanup event titled “Keep Austin Beautiful Day”. The county-wide event will take place on April 13th, 2019 between 9 and 11 am at different locations around Austin. This volunteer event has over 3,000 participants that get to pick up and remove over 30,000 pounds of trash. The cleanup event will be followed by a rewarding volunteer appreciation party featuring free t-shirts, lunch, live music, and children’s activities.

In Austin, Texas, the Colorado River runs directly through downtown along with its reservoirs, Lake Austin and Lady Bird Lake. Because of the high amount of tourism that the city attracts, the waterways are more polluted than others. The water pollution gets updated regularly and is currently recorded as “moderate”. This means that some work needs to be done in order to keep the numbers low for pollution. The nonprofit service organization, Keep Austin Beautiful, commits to providing resources for its citizens to maintain Austin’s beautiful environment. They aim to clean, beautify, recycle, educate, and recognize.  These are some of the same values that Blue Velvet stands by and that is why we want you to participate if you live in the greater Austin area.

This past year, the Keep Austin Beautiful Day had a number of volunteers that worked on different sites, some including the Barton Creek Greenbelt. A creek that eventually flows into the Colorado River. There is major importance in cleaning up your local community, wherever that may be. Coming together to create a clean space for yourself and your fellow neighbor is a step in the right direction to combat pollution, whether that be in major waterways or in public spaces. To volunteer, visit their website and select which location you would like to take action in. If you happen to attend, please make sure to use the hashtag for the event (#KeepAustinBeautifulDay) and share your photos with us on our Twitter (@velvets_blue) or Instagram (blue_velvet.__).