It’s a non-profit organization does just what it’s named — Keep Pinellas Beautiful.

And how do they do it? One piece of garbage (and greenery) at a time.

With a small staff and a legion of volunteers, the group is hosting several clean-ups honoring World Environment Day on June 5, including one on Gandy Beach.

“We guarantee a clean-up being at least 500 pounds of trash from that event every weekend,” said Pat DePlasco, executive director of Keep Pinellas Beautiful. “The sad thing is that we have to go back every weekend. I wish people would try to put waste in its place in the first place.”

On Saturday, volunteers will be at Bartlett Park for a Salt Creek clean-up.

On Sunday, they’ll be at Gandy Beach.

Spotlight on a volunteer-turned-staff member

Caitlin Venancio is kayaking in garbage-filled water — on purpose.

“The most interesting thing we found was a hubcap,” she said, holding it up.

Now a volunteer specialist with Keep Pinellas Beautiful, she started volunteering about a year ago.

She’s currently floating in Clam Bayou with a paddle and a trash grabber — the area is where St. Pete’s storm drain run-off ends up.

Booms are in place to bblock debris before it hits Tampa Bay.

“It’s empowering being able to go out and pick up trash,” said Venancio.

It more than just picking up trash, she said, it’s putting her education to work.

“As an Environmental Studies major, we learn about human connections with the environment,” said Venancio.

Through Keep Pinellas Beautiful, she is making her own connections.

She says this is where she finds her motivation — looking to her fellow helpers.

When she goes to clean-ups, people show up and pitch in.

“It makes me have that sense of hope in times when you can start feeling defeated,” said Venancio.