Houston District helps keep Texas beaches safe and healthy

As summer came to a close, a Southwest Division team headed to the shore one last time for the season to help clean a local waterway.

Houston District team members, along with friends and family, participated in the Texas General Land Office’s Adopt-A-Beach Fall Cleanup event in late September. The event brought 70 volunteers to Galveston’s shoreline to remove debris and promote environmental stewardship along the Lone Star State’s coast.

The Adopt-A-Beach program hosts two major coastwide cleanups each year. For the Houston District, participation has become a meaningful tradition.

“We’ve done it for many years,” said Lead Environmental Engineer Kelsey Worley. “Being on the coastline, we have sites spanning from Beaumont to Corpus Christi, so Galveston is a weekend destination for many of our employees. This is our way of giving back to the community and protecting a place we all enjoy.”

Volunteers were grouped in pairs or small teams, each equipped with trash bags and a mission to make a difference. The cleanup collected a wide variety of litter, from cigarette butts and candy wrappers to rusty nails and discarded flip-flops.

“Some people came back with full bags, others with smaller, but equally important, finds; all just filled with things that could seriously pollute our waterways,” Worley explained. “It really showed some of the things we need to be mindful of when we go for a day at the beach. It’s everyday items people leave behind, those little things could be quite harmful to plants and animals.”

Along with Martin Marietta team members, the event drew participants from across Texas, including San Antonio and Dallas, with many turning the cleanup into a weekend getaway. Overall, everyone found it to be a meaningful experience. “Giving back allows us to put our values into action. It’s an opportunity to contribute to our community by investing our time and effort into the places where we live and work,” said District Production Manager Lupe Suarez. “Personally, it’s also a chance to set an example for my daughters and show them how important it is to protect our environment and strengthen our community through service and teamwork.”

Rail Distribution Manager David Lopez said he enjoyed seeing so many of his friends and colleagues eager to help in such a meaningful way.

“It’s fun taking otherwise serious and professional individuals and placing us in a setting normally reserved for vacationing,” he said. “It makes for a more cohesive unit and shows we’re all committed to Martin Marietta’s values without compromise.”

Beachgoers were present and appreciative, enjoying the warm waters while volunteers worked to restore the shoreline.

“We opened it up to friends and family, and the response was fantastic,” Worley said. “Everyone was excited to be part of something meaningful.”

As the new year begins, the Houston District is exploring additional community service opportunities to give back to local ecosystems.

“We hope to continue this in 2026 or look for some new opportunities of equal importance,” Worley shared. “It’s a chance to give back, to support the communities near our facilities and to demonstrate good stewardship.”