Dublin Pride Week, the city's annual weeklong series of events promoting volunteerism and environmental awareness, is going virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus the event will run for five weeks, kicking off this Saturday (Sept. 19) and ending on Oct. 24.

Instead of beginning with a big Volunteer Day, members of the community can choose virtual events that work for their schedules. Opportunities include picking up litter during neighborhood walks or donating to food banks.

The 2020 events and activities are as follows:

* Dublin Cleanup 2020; September -- "Protect Our New American Backyard."

Join the city's celebration of Coastal Cleanup Day by picking up litter while on neighborhood walks. Wear gloves, carry a trash bag and report cleanup by recording data on the CleanSwell app. Visit www.dublin.ca.gov/993/Coastal-Cleanup-2020 for details.

* Virtual Bike Workshops; September and October.

Increase knowledge and comfort in biking for transportation or recreation. Visit bikeeastbay.org/Education for a complete calendar of classes and registration information.

* "Make Soup Not Waste -- A Virtual Food Waste Prevention Cooking Workshop," 10:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., Sept. 19.

Tie on an apron, grab a knife and vegetables, and join Anne-Marie Bonneau, aka the "Zero-Waste Chef," to make soup together with what is already in the refrigerator. No two pots will be the same. Learn additional strategies to prevent food waste in this interactive workshop. Register at make-soup-not-waste.eventbrite.com.

* Virtual food drive; Sept. 19 to Oct. 26.

Donate to one of four organizations helping feed Tri-Valley residents who face food insecurity, especially now when the need is greater than ever. Visit dublinprideweek.com for a link to donate to Alameda County Food Bank, Children's Emergency Food Bank, Open Heart Kitchen, and Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley.

* Bike to Wherever Day; Sept. 24.

Bike to Work Day is back on Sept. 24 as Bike to Wherever Day. Pledge to ride and get your map of (contact-free) energizer stations for the big day; a digital goody bag; and self-guided rides to celebrate. Get all the details at BikeEastBay.org/BTWD

* Workshops on discounted solar and backup battery storage programs; Sept. 24 to Oct. 21.

Workshops include Resilient Home by East Bay Community Energy (EBCE); and Bay Area SunShares, offering rooftop solar and battery storage options with pre-negotiated pricing.

* Drive Clean Bay Area presents National Drive Electric Week; Sept. 26 to Oct. 4.

Discover the benefits of electric cars and e-bikes. Learn about vehicle range, charging, rebates and incentives, programs for income qualified drivers, and the upcoming Drive Clean Bay Area EV Preferred Pricing Campaign. Register at drivecleanbayarea.org/ndew/.

* Healthy soils webinars; 9-10:30 a.m., Sept. 26; 6-8 p.m., Nov. 12.

Join StopWaste for its "Healthy Soils Series," which showcases some of the practices used by StopWaste's local farm partners. The series includes a film screening of "Symphony of the Soil" followed by a discussion about carbon farming.

* "Nature in Our Own Backyard" photo contest; submissions due Oct. 26.

Submit creek, wildlife and natural park photographs taken in Dublin between April 2019 and October 2020. Winners will receive a gift certificate from Mike's Camera, recognition from the city, and a metal print of the photograph. Learn more at dublin.ca.gov/2098/Nature-in-Our-Backyard-Photography-Contest

* Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off & Compost Give-Away Day, Oct. 24.

A detailed flyer describing this event will be mailed to all single-family residences.

* E-waste recycling drop-off; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 24.

Recycle old and broken e-waste responsibly. For a complete list of accepted items visit recycle1234.com/certified-no-cost.

For more information on any of the Dublin Pride events, visit www.dublinprideweek.com, or contact Rebecca Parnes at [email protected]