By TRINA ‘INDI’ JOHNSON
Special to the PRESS
Huge prizes await at area cleanup. Dolphin watch tours, handcrafted jewelry, metal art, hotel stays, and even guided fishing trips are just a few of the rewards up for grabs at Saturday’s End of the Road Beach Cleanup.
The prize table looks more like a coastal festival giveaway than a thank-you for trash collection, but that’s exactly what it is.
“A key part of our cleanups has been the prizes we give away at the events,” said organizer Richard Hitchcox.
“We use the prizes as a way of saying thank you to our volunteers and as a way of getting them to come back again. It seems to be working rather effectively.”
The 1st Day of Summer Cleanup, hosted by the RGV Fishing Area and Waterway Cleanups Group, is set for June 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the northernmost edge of South Padre Island. Known locally as the End of the Road, the area lies beyond city limits and often escapes the attention of smaller cleanup efforts.
This group, however, has become known for tackling such stretches and hauling out impressive amounts of trash in the process.
“We started doing cleanups at the End of the Road a few years ago. It is outside the SPI city limits. So it gets overlooked by many people organizing cleanups, or smaller groups with fewer volunteers go out to clean there. We usually collect a lot of trash there,” Hitchcox explained.
The group’s method is structured, supported, and effective. With help from sponsors like STX Overland Jeeps and EMR USA Metal Recycling, both access and disposal have been made possible on a larger scale.
Four-wheel-drive vehicles will push deep into remote beach areas, collecting large debris and retrieving filled trash bags from scattered volunteer crews. Dumpsters will be positioned on-site for immediate removal and sorting.
“We have been collecting about 2,000 pounds (a ton) or more of trash per cleanup event,” Hitchcox said.
That level of impact, measured in literal tons, would be difficult to achieve without community partnerships.
The sponsor list stretches across several pages and includes businesses, fishing guides, artists, restaurants, and medical professionals. Many contribute items for prizes; others provide hydration, meals, equipment, or funding. Together, their support allows the cleanup to function on a scale few others can match.
“The sponsors are very important to us,” Hitchcox said. “They provide us with giveaway prizes, snacks, waters, Gatorade and things like that. They also help us provide a meal for the volunteers. They also provide funds we use to purchase items that aren’t donated. We are very grateful for our wonderful sponsors.”
Over 100 volunteers are expected to participate in this cleanup. Groups from schools, churches, scouting organizations, and local agencies have already signed up. With the logistical backing of the sponsor network and the determination of experienced leadership, this is a cleanup that doesn’t just ask people to pitch in — it makes it easy to show up and be effective.
“The meals we provide are prepared well, and they are well received by our volunteers. This is just another way we use to thank our volunteers,” Hitchcox added.
Since 2018, Hitchcox has been at the helm of these efforts, organizing and refining the format, reaching out to partners, and keeping the mission front and center. His motivation, he says, comes from the energy of the people who keep showing up to help.
“I stay motivated about organizing cleanup events by interacting with my fellow board of directors members and by interacting with community members and local elected officials. The support we receive keeps me motivated to keep on going with the cleanups.”
His goal remains constant: build momentum, educate beachgoers, and keep growing the team of those who care.
“Long term I would love to get more people involved with cleanups. I also would like to educate more people about the importance of cleaning up after themselves.”
Those interested in helping are encouraged to show up at the end of State Park Road 100, past the barrier marked “Road Closed.” Gloves, bags, drinks, lunch, and giveaways will be waiting — along with a chance to make a visible difference.
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