Volunteer opportunities available at Spring Spruce-up later this month

For a lot of people, the arrival of spring means it's time to begin cleaning up the things and places they love, and later this month, Salinans will have the opportunity to do just that around the community.

The annual Spring Spruce-up, a community cleanup project organized by the Friends of the River Foundation, is happening from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 29.

This year's spruce-up will benefit nine different organizations or groups around the Salina community, with volunteers needed at over 10 sites around the city.

"It's so gratifying because it truly is so many worthwhile organizations," said Jane Anderson, executive director of the Friends of the River Foundation. "Without these volunteers, we couldn't get this work done."

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What projects are new this year?

Volunteer opportunities are spread across the city during the spruce-up this year, meaning people have plenty of options to chose from.

Many of the sites are familiar to those who have participated in the spruce-up in the past, but Anderson said there is one particular site new this year that she's excited about.

"(In) North Town, cleaning up the Dry Creek has never happened before," Anderson said.

After meeting at the intersection of North 12th St. and Hamilton Ave., those who chose to volunteer at this site will help clean up the creek behind what used to be described by many in the community as a dilapidated trailer park just off of 13th Street.

"Even the city (staff) wouldn't go in there without a police escort," Anderson said.

In the past couple of years, that area has been revitalized with a new manufactured housing development replacing what was once there.

"They cleared out the old trailers, put in new (manufactured homes) and it's really giving that whole area new life," Anderson said.

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An opportunity for groups to work together

While individuals and families make up a lot of the volunteer force during the Spring Spruce-up, Anderson said this time is a great way for groups, businesses and organizations in the community to volunteer collectively.

"We are partnering with Kansas Wesleyan (University) again this year, as part of what's called Project Hero," Anderson said. "We're (expecting) them to bring about 240 students."

Anderson said organizations such as churches always bring groups of people, including one church group that is bringing so many volunteers that the Spring Spruce-up organizers took one project off of their initial list so as to not have too many at that site.

Who can volunteer and what should they bring?

To volunteer, all that is asked is that people meet at one of the worksites wearing appropriate shoes and clothes for the forecasted weather as well as something they don't mind getting dirty.

Additionally, volunteers as asked to bring a bottle of water and gloves they can work in. Any tools needed at the various sites will be provided.

Finally, while families are encouraged to take part in the Spring Spruce-up, volunteers aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Here's a list of this year's Spring Spruce-up organizations and volunteer sites along with what type of work will be done:

• Ashby House - 150 S. Eighth St. Landscaping and campus cleanup

• CHDO - 936 S. 10th St. Yard work

• City of Salina-

  • Arts and Humanities - 730 Oakdale Drive at the Formal Garden, cleaning sculptures in Oakdale Park

  • Engineering - 336 S. Santa Fe Ave. Placing storm drain medallions, about trash in waterways

  • Parks and Recreation - 1871 E. Magnolia Road. Trimming, cleanup and mulching walking trail near soccer complex

• Friends of the River Foundation - 570 YMCA Drive, YMCA parking lot. Trash cleanup at the Smoky Hill River

• North Town District

  • Intersection of N. Broadway Blvd. and N. Ninth St. Cleanup landscaping at 5-Corners

  • Intersection of N. 12th St. and Hamilton Ave. Cleanup Dry Creek debris

• Salina Downtown - 112-114 S. Santa Fe Ave., between Strand Plaza and Borolo Grill back patio. Clear weeds, debris, clean and add new mulch to planter beds

• Salina Food Bank - 255 S. Chicago St. Weed, add soil and mulch and plant garden beds, build summer school garden box, clean windows

• Salina Rescue Mission - 1716 Summers Road. Organize storage units, weed gardens and stain outdoor covers

• The Temple - 336 S. Santa Fe Ave. red north door. Weed and plant flowers, paint the bridal dressing room

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina volunteers get ready to Spruce-up the city