The Palisades and Eaton fires have had an incomprehensible impact on Southern California. Many current students at Oak Park High School were still in elementary school during the Woolsey Fire in 2018, and were not able to fully grasp the impact of a widespread natural disaster.

Now as high school students many have witnessed the detrimental effects and are hoping to make a difference, starting with our local community. Founder of “Clean Up” Ananya Bathija wrote to the Talon about her motivations for starting the organization.

“After seeing the devastating impact [of the fires] and realizing that climate change took so many lives, I was inspired to start the organization,” Bathija wrote.

Since the organization’s recent foundation they have been part of several events, the most recent one in Ormond Beach. The most recent one managed by Surfrider Ventura County, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping oceans safe and healthy.

“At Ormond Beach we picked up 15 pounds of trash in just two hours,” social media manager Emily Kong said.

Being formed in response to recent events “Clean Up” is not yet officially associated with OPHS however the team has plans to bring the organization on campus officially next fall.

“We’d like to get more people involved and focus on educating people on how to be more sustainable in daily life,” Kong said.

The next event is planned to be held on Feb. 22 at Ormond Beach from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. For more information you can reach out to @clean.up.cc on Instagram.