Participation Types

Term Definition
Volunteer A community member unaffiliated or affiliated
Community Group A nonprofit, professional, neighborhood community pledging to steward a site with 15+ people
Site Sponsor A financial financial contributor who funds a site by donation or contributing gift cards from their business
Event Backer A financial contributor whose funds go to Downtown Dollar rewards and event operations including compensating the event team, marketing and promotion, press and media coverage, and impact report

Event Terms

Term Definition
Site One of ten designated cleanup areas along the San Lorenzo River, each stewarded by a volunteer community.
Site Team A community group that commits approximately 15 participants to staff and support a cleanup site.
Site Captain A lead volunteer at a site responsible for coordinating participants, verifying collected and documented litter, distributing Downtown Dollars, sharing site data with SCGX, photo-documenting the site after cleanup, and ensuring collected litter is properly staged for disposal.
Exchange Station A site-based station managed by the Site Captain where participants bring collected litter to be verified, exchange it for Downtown Dollars, and leave litter for disposal.
Exchange Rate A predetermined amount of documented litter—measured by number of items or weight—that earns Downtown Dollars.
Participant Pairs Participants work in pairs, splitting roles between collecting litter and documenting litter using the Marine Debris app.

FAQ

Do I need prior cleanup experience?

No. Tools, instructions, and on-site leadership are provided. Volunteers just need to be willing to work collaboratively and follow a clear process.

What should I bring?

Closed-toe shoes, gloves, weather-appropriate clothing, and a willingness to work as part of a team. Cleanup supplies and materials are provided.

What happens to the litter after it’s collected?

Collected litter is staged at each site for proper disposal according to city and partner guidelines. Site Captains oversee cleanup close-out to ensure nothing is left behind.

How is sponsorship used?

Sponsorship supports Downtown Dollars for participants, event coordination, cleanup logistics, and post-event reporting.

Will results be shared publicly?

Yes. SCGX is designed to be transparent and accountable, with outcomes reported to partners and the community.