Ocean Springs Beach Cleanup Doubles in 3rd Year

When Alan Test dedicated his life to protecting the Mississippi Gulf Coast, he probably never imagined dozens of volunteers would one day carry his mission forward with sandy feet and full hearts.

Over 50 people showed up Saturday morning for the third annual Alan Test Memorial Beach Cleanup at Fort Maurepas Park in Ocean Springs. The Rotary Club of Ocean Springs and Thalassas Sea Fans Cleanup Crew organized the event to honor Test's passion for keeping local beaches pristine.

Volunteers spent three hours combing the shoreline for trash, working shoulder to shoulder in the morning sun. Sue Rokaw from the Rotary Club said Test would be thrilled to see his legacy growing stronger each year.

The numbers tell an impressive story. Last year's cleanup removed 471 pounds of trash from the beach. This year brought nearly double the volunteers, and organizers expect to shatter that record.

"We've had easily almost double the volunteers show up early this morning to get started," said Kelsey Flemming with the Thalassas Sea Fans Cleanup Crew. More people continued joining throughout the day, turning the cleanup into a proper community celebration.

The Ripple Effect

What started as a tribute to one passionate person has become a movement that brings Ocean Springs together each year. The event grows not because of fancy marketing, but because people care about their coastline and remember those who protected it.

Each volunteer who bends down to pick up a plastic bottle or fishing line becomes part of Test's ongoing story. They're not just cleaning a beach. They're teaching their kids, inspiring their neighbors, and proving that environmental stewardship doesn't require grand gestures.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast faces constant challenges from litter and pollution, but events like this show communities fighting back with positivity and action. When one person's passion sparks dozens to join in, entire coastlines get cleaner.

Ocean Springs now has a growing tradition that honors the past while protecting the future, one sandy handful of trash at a time.