Celebrating 10 years of restoring our waterways!
Fish For Garbage is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that mobilizes communities through waterway cleanups and watershed education.
What We Do
We have two programs at Fish For Garbage: Waterway Cleanups and our Watershed Education Program.
Waterway Cleanups
Fish For Garbage brings volunteers, community partners, and waterway users together to host hands-on cleanups that remove trash, restore natural spaces, and raise awareness about protecting the rivers, lakes, and shorelines we all enjoy. We collaborate with local groups, nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies to create meaningful impact, providing trash bags, gloves, grabbers, and other essential supplies so participants can focus on making a difference. Our events are designed to be both productive and welcoming, offering volunteers a free lunch and social gathering after each cleanup to celebrate their efforts, build connections, and strengthen a shared sense of stewardship. With the added support of our sponsors through in-kind donations and opportunity drawings, we’re able to further thank participants while inspiring continued involvement. Through this work, we strive to create cleaner waterways, encourage civic engagement, and foster a strong, united community committed to protecting and responsibly managing our shared natural resources for future generations.
Watershed Education
At Fish For Garbage, we believe education is the foundation for long-term environmental stewardship. Through our youth initiatives — the FFG Kids Club (the Raccoons) and our Activity Book for Children — we help young learners understand why clean waterways matter and how they can play a role in protecting them.
At select events, kids can join short, interactive workshops led by our youth ambassadors, where they learn how everyday actions like picking up trash or using reusable items can make a big difference. Participants earn a raffle ticket and become official members of the Raccoons, encouraging pride and responsibility for the outdoors.
We also share our activity books and educational resources at community events, festivals, and cleanups across the state, creating fun, hands-on opportunities for families to learn together.
By making education engaging and accessible, we’re inspiring the next generation to care for our waterways — one curious kid at a time. Small paws. Big impact.
Get Involved
Sponsor a Program
Our operations and programming requires annual and recurring purchases such as equipment, materials, insurance, and permitting fees. We’re always looking for sponsors, partners, and in-kind donations.
Volunteer
In order to be successful, our cleanups require boots on the ground and offer direct service opportunities for employees, interested groups, and individuals.
Make a Donation
To ensure the stability and sustainability of the organization while meeting financial needs, our funding comes from corporate sponsors, foundations and individual donors, with some support from grants.