Volunteers removed nearly 2,000 pounds of trash and marine debris from the Coconut Grove waterfront Sunday, Oct. 11, during a cleanup organized by a faith-based volunteer group.

Dozens of young professionals with ASEZ WAO, the World Mission Society Church of God's young adult worker volunteer group, collected litter along the shoreline, WSVN reported.

ASEZ WAO stands for "Save the Earth from A to Z, We Are One Family."

"We're in the city where everyone wants to come to the beach, why would you want your backyard to look trashy, a mess?" volunteer Gabriel Perez told WSVN.

Perez said the cleanup was important not only for residents but also for wildlife living in the water.

The Coconut Grove cleanup followed the county's annual Baynanza event, which brought thousands of volunteers to shoreline sites across Miami-Dade County earlier this year.

During Baynanza on April 11, volunteers worked at 33 locations around Biscayne Bay, according to WSVN's coverage.

Miami-Dade County reported that 3,500 volunteers collected 20,157 pounds of trash and marine debris during the event, according to Miami-Dade Environment.

Another cleanup scheduled Oct. 17

Residents interested in volunteering have another opportunity Saturday, Oct. 17, when the Bayfront Park Management Trust hosts a shoreline cleanup in downtown Miami.

The event runs from 8 to 10 a.m. at Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd..

Organizers are inviting volunteers to help remove litter and protect the waterfront. Registration information is available through the park's event listing.