California Based Retailer 99¢ Only Stores to Sponsor Heal the Bay's Successful Beach Cleanup Program Nothin’ But Sand

Environmental organization Heal the Bay announced today a new partnership with 99¢ Only Stores®, a successful Southern California based retail chain. 99¢ Only Stores is donating $9,999.99 to sponsor Heal the Bay’s most popular beach cleanup program, Nothin’ But Sand.

The volunteer driven program holds monthly beach cleanups, open to all, that cover Los Angeles County’s most heavily polluted beaches. Each month, hundreds of volunteers participate in the Heal the Bay-organized cleanup to learn about the sources of marine debris and how they can prevent ocean pollution. Each volunteer receives cleaning supplies and in turn provides Heal the Bay with data cards identifying what trash is found on the beach.

Through the support of 99¢ Only Stores, Heal the Bay provides education about ocean pollution, safety instructions and cleanup supplies including bags, gloves, pencils and data cards, for individuals, families, schools and business groups to remove trash from local beaches. In addition, 99¢ Only Stores has donated gift certificates, reusable bags and other fun drawing prizes as appreciation awards for volunteers at each Nothin’ But Sand cleanup. As part of its commitment to educate consumers on environmentally-friendly alternatives to single-use plastic bags, the company has been promoting the adoption of reusable bags for many years. 99¢ Only Stores reusable bags are available for 99.99¢ in all of its 272 stores. The company is also implementing a new "plastic bag reduction policy” throughout the entire chain. Cashiers will only double bag upon request and encourage customers to forgo a single-use plastic bag on purchases of three items or less.

99¢ Only Stores has been a longtime major retail sponsor of Heal the Bay’s A Day Without a Bag event. The company has donated over 49,999 reusable bags to consumers over the past two years.

"We are proud to be the sponsor of Heal the Bay's Nothin' But Sand beach cleanups. Clean and safe beaches are invaluable to our communities,” said Eric Schiffer, 99¢ Only Stores CEO. "We feel strongly about promoting environmental awareness and also pride ourselves in offering eco-friendly products at exceptional prices.”

About 99¢ Only Stores: Founded over 25 years ago, 99¢ Only Stores operates 272 extreme value retail stores with 203 in California, 32 in Texas, 25 in Arizona and 12 in Nevada. 99¢ Only Stores emphasizes quality name-brand consumables, priced at an excellent value, in convenient, attractively merchandised stores. Over half of the company’s sales come from food and beverages, including produce, dairy, deli and frozen foods, along with organic and gourmet foods.

About Heal the Bay: Heal the Bay is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to making Southern California coastal waters and watersheds, including Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy and clean. They use research, education, community action and advocacy to pursue their mission.