Organization seeks volunteers for post-Fourth of July cleanup on Masonboro Island

MASONBORO ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — As hundreds of boaters are expected to gather on Masonboro Island for Independence Day celebrations, a local nonprofit is preparing for another busy cleanup effort and looking for volunteers to help keep the island free of litter.

Masonboro.org, a volunteer organization dedicated to protecting the island, will spend Saturday encouraging visitors to dispose of their trash properly and cleaning up any debris left behind.

“We love it here. We like to say it’s our Yellowstone,” said Jack Kilbourn, co-founder of Masonboro.org.

Kilbourn, who has visited the island for decades, said his commitment to protecting Masonboro Island grew after the Fourth of July in 2009, when thousands of people gathered on the beach and left behind large amounts of trash.

“There’s a spot over here where they had a giant party and everybody came and hung out all day, but nobody took their trash with them,” Kilbourn said.

He said many of the people responsible for the litter were visitors who had paid for rides to the island.

“They would pay somebody $20 or $30 to get them over here with their cooler full of beer. They would get there, party, drink their beer and then try to figure out how to get home. The last thing they were worried about was taking their trash with them unfortunately,” Kilbourn said.

After the state raised concerns about the amount of litter and considered restricting public access to the island, volunteers formed Masonboro.org in 2010 to help preserve the area.

“We brought together about 75 volunteers and we set up a camp right there in the middle of where the party was,” Kilbourn said. “We were there the entire day passing out trash bags and asking folks to take their trash with them.”

The organization has continued the annual tradition ever since.

“Our motto is we don’t leave one bottle cap behind,” said Tom Hackler, president of Masonboro.org.

Hackler said this year’s Fourth of July weekend could draw even larger crowds because the holiday falls on a Saturday during the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.

“We encourage everybody to take a 5-gallon bucket with you,” Hackler said. “If you’re on the beach, walk the beach, pick up debris that you see. That’s always very helpful.”

Masonboro.org is seeking volunteers to assist with the cleanup efforts Saturday. Click here to learn more.