COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM (CAT) ![]() ![]() |
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• DAILY Riley's Red Wagon Book Swap
Open daily (unless it's raining) from about 8 a.m. until just before dark at 3040 E. First Street in Bluff Park. First-time guests can have five free books. They can keep those forever or bring them back to exchange for four more. This project is hosted by Justin Rudd. JustinRudd.com/redwagon • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, 10 a.m., 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, 10 a.m., 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, 10 a.m., 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • Interfaith Blessing of the Animals TO BE CONFIRMED: Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, 5:45 p.m. 23rd annual, 1 Granada Ave. on the concrete boat launch ramp adjacent to Rosie's Dog Beach in Long Beach, 90803. Free to participate and/or spectate. Justin Rudd's nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) hosts about 250 people with their animals as they get "blessed" by about five various faith leaders. JustinRudd.com/blessing • $1,000 Belmont Shore Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 21st annual. 5200 E. Second Street. Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team host about 50 adult artists who use the sidewalks of trendy Second Street to work on their large paper canvases. JustinRudd.com/chalk ![]() Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, 2:30 p.m., 24th annual, beachfront grassy park and path in front of former Belmont Pool, 4000 E. Olympic Plaza (just west of Rosie's Dog Beach), Long Beach, 90803. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team (CAT) host the biggest Halloween pet event in the world. There is a vendor and pet adoption fair from 12:30-4:30 p.m., but the highlight of the day is the 400+ costumed dogs as they parade a few blocks in front of a few thousand gawkers and a panel of judges. $10/advance/dog. There is no charge for humans to walk in the parade (with or without pets), and it's free to spectate. Front-row chairs can be rented on-site for $6/cash. JustinRudd.com/howloween • Teen/Miss/Ms./Mrs. Long Beach pageant and Teen/Miss/Ms./Mrs. Southern California pageant Sat., Nov. 1, 2025: 5 p.m., concert hall/fellowship hall at Bay Shore Church, Belmont Shore. The Miss Long Beach Pageant was created in 1950 and is now produced by Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT). The eight titleholders each receive $1,500 appearance contracts to volunteer at CAT events. JustinRudd.com/pageants and MissLongBeach.com and MissSouthernCalifornia.com • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, 9:30 a.m.: 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • Long Beach Turkey Trot & Kids 1/2-Mile Wingding for charity Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 2025; 23rd annual; 1 Granada Ave. is the start and finish. Two start times: 7:30 and 9:10 a.m. Walk/run. Also, Kids 1/2-mile Wingding JustinRudd.com/trot • Operation Santa Paws For the month of Dec. 2025, please collect pet toys, treats, cleaning supplies, and take them to your favorite shelter or rescue at a convenient time/date for you. Hosted by Justin Rudd, his nonprofit Community Action Team and Haute Dogs. JustinRudd.com/santapaws • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025; 9:30 and 10 a.m. start times, 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • Joy to the World! free holiday concert - TICKETS REQUIRED Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025; 5 p.m., 11th annual; Bay Shore Church sanctuary, 5100 E. The Toledo, free with donation of a pack of men's athletic socks, or canned goods or non-perishables for a local food bank. Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team present this free 25-piece professional brass and percussion group from the Southern California Brass Consortium. JustinRudd.com/concert • Long Beach Christmas Cookie Contest & Long Beach Bake-off Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024; 6:30 p.m., 12th annual Bake-Off and Christmas Cookie Contest, Bay Shore Church fellowship hall, 5100 E. The Toledo. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team host a few dozen bakers and checks to charities on behalf of the top-6 bakers with the best homemade holiday cookies and baked goods. The free awards/tasting reception follows the free, ticketed Christmas Concert by Southern California Brass Consortium (see concert listing above). JustinRudd.com/cookiecontest • Sock-It-To-‘Em sock drive for the homeless Jan. 1-31, 2026; 24th annual. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team (CAT) hold an annual collection of new pairs of socks with a goal to collect 25,000 pairs for area homeless men, women, and youth. The socks are distributed to area agencies. Most requested are men’s black crew socks. Wish lists at JustinRudd.com/target and JustinRudd.com/amazon JustinRudd.com/socks • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, 9:30 and 10 a.m. start times: 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, 9:30 and 10 a.m. start times, 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. Rain or shine. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • Bulldog Beauty Contest & Haute Dogs Contests Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, 9 a.m - noon, 20th annual, concrete boat launch ramp at 1 Granada Ave., at Rosie's Dog Beach. Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) host this event billed as one of the largest annual gatherings of English bulldogs in the world. Some of the other contests that day for all breeds/mixes include National Mutt Show, Best in Show, best large dog, and best small dog. The dogs will parade down the red carpet and get judged by real-life beauty queens, all to help raise money for CAT/Haute Dogs and animal welfare causes. $10/advance per dog; free to spectate. Register at JustinRudd.com/hautedogs ![]() Sunday, March 9, 2025, 2 p.m., 23rd annual, Bay Shore Church fellowship hall, 5100 E. The Toledo. Justin Rudd's Community Action Team hosts students in grades 3-5 from across North America as they try to spell correctly to win the $1,000 cash prize. JustinRudd.com/bee •$1,000 National Adult Spelling Bee Sunday, March 9, 2025, 4:30 p.m., 19th annual, Bay Shore Church fellowship hall, 5100 E. The Toledo. Justin Rudd's Community Action Team hosts teens and adults from across North America as they try to spell correctly to win the $1,000 prize, and half of that will go to the speller's favorite charity. JustinRudd.com/adultbee •30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, March 15, 2025, 10 a.m., or arrive at 9:30 to get a head start, 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup •Operation Easter Basket April 6, 2025, 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Bay Shore Church's youth center, 5100 E. The Toledo. 21st annual. Baskets include items like art supplies, school supplies, hygiene items, toys, and candy and should be valued about $20. Please bring items to donate. Bring items to go in the baskets. Sign up to volunteer at JustinRudd.com/easter • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, April 19, 2025, 10 a.m., 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • Long Beach Touch-A-Truck Sun., April 27, 2025, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at 1 Granada Ave. This 9th annual event is free, and it's CAT's largest event with about 4,000 kids of all ages who get to sit in the drivers' seats. It is hosted by Justin Rudd, his nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT), the Port of Long Beach and Councilwoman Kristina Duggan. About 100 large vehicles are expected to be stationed in the beachfront parking lot. Come climb aboard and explore. Some of previous years' vehicles included a street sweeper, garbage truck, cement mixers, a John Deere tractor, firetrucks, 18-wheelers, police cars, motorcycles, a city bus, cranes, forklift, and more. Free tickets: JustinRudd.com/truck • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, May 17, 2025, 10 a.m., or arrive at 9:30 to get a head start, 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • Clothing & Shoe Drive for Homeless June 1-8, 2025. 12th annual. Deliver items directly to Christian Outreach in Action (COA), 515 E. 3rd St. (there is a chute to put the items in; the chute is low to the sidewalk on the left of the double doors on 3rd St.) or to Bay Shore Church office on weekdays before 2 p.m.(or Sunday mornings). For Justin Rudd's birthday (June 6), he asks the public to give the gift of used clothes and shoes. Each year, several truckloads of goods are collected and donated to area homeless service agencies. JustinRudd.com • Camp Justin! June 16-19, 2025; 14th annual. For a few days each summer, Justin Rudd takes about a dozen deserving high school seniors and graduates on day trips around Long Beach and beyond. In previous years, the group: flew to Las Vegas for an overnight and stayed in a 5-star hotel; flew to San Francisco; toured college campuses; meeting with elected officials; rode horses in Griffith Park; toured movie studios; dined with county commissioners, mayors and council people, spent the night on the Queen Mary, and much more. The goal of the Camp is to help the students to "explore, dream and discover" while showing them more of the world outside the neighborhood and school in which they spend most of their time. Presenting sponsor: Christie Peck. JustinRudd.com/campjustin •30-Minute Beach Cleanup (26th anniversary!) Saturday, June 21, 2025, 10 a.m., or arrive at 9:30 to get a head start, 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup |