Each one of the following groups has a different focus and are worthy of your consideration if you are looking to support a local cause. We encourage you to look deeper into each one, get involved, volunteer and contribute. It’s all for the common good!
Pacific Beach Coalition
Formerly the Pacifica Beach Coalition, this local nonprofit now serves areas from Daly City to Half Moon Bay. You have probably seen their banners at various beaches as they recruit and manage volunteers to pick up trash on our beaches and restore native habitats. Their mission is ‘to preserve the ocean, coastal habitat and wildlife, and ending litter, through advocacy, education, community building, and citizen action.' It’s a great group and they can always use more help in cleanups. Learn more here: www.pacificbeachcoalition.org
Coastside Land Trust
The CLT focuses on securing key parcels and lots which they feel are better suited to preservation rather than development including large parts of Wavecrest and other blufftop areas in Half Moon Bay. Currently they are planning on extending and improving the coastal trail from the current terminus to Redondo Beach Road. Their stated mission is ‘dedicated to the preservation, protection and enhancement of the open space environment, including the natural, scenic, recreational, cultural, historical, and agricultural resources of Half Moon Bay and the San Mateo County Coast for present and future generations.’ Learn more about them here: www.coastsidelandtrust.org
SeaHugger
Founded in 2018, Sea Hugger is a Half Moon Bay based nonprofit which aims to decrease plastics in our marine environment. They also do beach cleanups, are involved in outdoor education and even underwater dives to remove plastics. Their mission is ‘to educate the public to reduce plastic dependency, while focusing on protecting the marine environment, ensuring the intrinsic rights of aquatic life, and helping create sustainable communities that are no longer affected by plastic pollution.’ Are you ready to become a champion of clean ocean environments? Reach them at: www.seahugger.org
Surfrider Foundation
Surfrider is a global organization started by the surfing community dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of oceans, beaches and waves. They have chapters all over the world including a local San Mateo County Coast chapter. They often host lectures on marine environments, perform testing and reporting of water quality and host trash pickups. This is a powerful organization that does some heavy legal lifting to maintain and improve access to the beaches and oceans for all. You don’t have to be a surfer to join, just a love of the ocean. smc.surfrider.org
Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST)
Similar to the Coastside Land Trust, POST aims to maximize the amount of open space in our area to help keep a balance of rural and urban landscapes. POST doesn’t seek to hold on to property it acquires, rather it acts as a steward that in turn prepares land to sell at below market rates to organizations like National and State Parks, the Coastal Conservancy or Mid-Peninsula Open Space District. openspacetrust.org
Whichever nonprofit you choose to support, we thank you for being part of our community looking out for our mountains, beaches, waterways, and ocean! May they thrive for generations to come!