Community Day of Service, Mormon Helping Hands

Thousands Volunteer to Serve California Communities

Sacramento, April 2, 2012                       

           During the month of April 2012, over 60,000 volunteers will participate in a day of service designed to help communities throughout California.  Partnering with interfaith service groups and community groups, “Mormon Helping Hands-Serving Our Communities” has worked with city, county and state officials to plan hundreds of projects across the State.

            “Municipalities everywhere are struggling to maintain important community facilities and services,” said Bill Marble, a councilmember from the city of Woodland and chairman of the event for California and Hawaii.  He added, “Helping hands are needed in every community.  This annual day of service has grown significantly since it was conceived 4 years ago.  Almost a thousand significant projects have been completed and hundreds more are planned to improve our cities, schools, parks and beaches.”

            On Saturday, April 14, 2012, South Sacramento will benefit from the services of 1000 community members from Sacramento, Elk Grove and West Sacramento.  These volunteer services are expected to make an immediate and measurable impact on the North Laguna Creek Park and Laguna Creek, which is adjacent to the park.

            Over 1000 members of church and civic groups are coordinating their efforts to perform over 30 renovation, maintenance and repair projects in a four hour time period on April 14. The City of Sacramento is providing materials and equipment for this aggressive project.  The Sacramento Tree Foundation is donating 20 trees to be planted by local Girls Scouts.  There will be 19 Eagle Scout projects performed by young men from the Boy Scouts of America. 

            The City of Sacramento has been coordinating closely with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to coordinate the large number of civic groups as part of the church’s annual “Mormon Helping Hands Project.”  Last April, more than 1000 volunteers provided over $100,000 worth of service in West Sacramento in the Riverwalk Park,  Bryte and Alyce Normon Regional Sports parks.  In 2010 over 800 volunteers of the Mormon Helping Hands restored and beautified William Land Park.

Marble envisions an inclusive effort.  He said, “We invite citizens, community and faith groups everywhere to join with us.  We need everyone’s helping hands!”

 For more information about Mormon Helping Hands please visit http://mhhcalifornia.org/