Preparations are in full swing for one of Folsom’s most philanthropic annual traditions, as tons of volunteers gathered Tuesday evening to set in motion the city’s largest charitable effort of the year.
On Saturday, September 20, the 12th annual Community Service Day will once again mobilize more than 1,500 residents of all ages to tackle projects across the city, from trail improvements and senior assistance to nonprofit support. But before any of that work takes place, one of the biggest undertakings—the community-wide food drive for Twin Lakes Food Bank—must be organized and prepared. That effort began this week with a remarkable show of teamwork.
The cultural hall of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Folsom transformed into what resembled a production warehouse Tuesday evening. Long rows of tables stretched across the room, with volunteers of every age—families, scout troops, retirees, and students—working side by side in assembly lines. Their job was simple but essential: take thousands of brown paper grocery bags, staple food drive instructions to each one, and stack them neatly for delivery in the weeks ahead.
The sight was a blur of movement as fast moving hands worked in rhythm—folding, stapling, stacking—while others hustled to keep supplies flowing down the rows. Conversations and laughter echoed throughout the room, underscoring the community spirit behind the effort. By the end of two nights of work, more than 30,000 bags had been prepared, all destined for the doorsteps of Folsom homes.
“We staple fliers to 30,000+ bags in preparation for the food drive,” said Mark Bahouth of the LDS Church. “We are able to do this in about two hours over two nights.”
The work may seem routine, but it’s the critical first step in a food drive that has become one of the region’s largest. Once the bags are distributed citywide, residents will have the opportunity to fill them with nonperishable items. On the morning of Community Service Day, volunteers will return to neighborhoods across the city to collect the bags from doorsteps, delivering them directly to Twin Lakes Food Bank where another group of helpers will sort and store the donations.
Last year’s effort yielded more than 28 tons of food, but with demand at the food bank continuing to surge, organizers hope the 2025 drive will once again exceed expectations.
Volunteer sign-ups underway for Sept. 20 event
While the bag-prep nights serve as the opening act, Community Service Day itself will bring together thousands of volunteers for a wide range of projects across the city. Registration officially opened earlier this month, and residents are encouraged to sign up now to secure a spot.
Opportunities range from school beautification and park cleanups to hands-on help for local nonprofits and projects that directly serve seniors. The food drive remains a cornerstone, with volunteers needed not just to deliver and collect the prepared bags, but also to unload and sort donations as they pour in at Twin Lakes Food Bank.
Since its inception in 2014, Community Service Day has rallied more than 23,000 volunteers who have completed over 1,000 projects across the city. Collectively, participants have donated more than 645,000 pounds of food, refurbished hundreds of homes, and supported countless nonprofit organizations through hands-on assistance and donation drives.
Organizers emphasize that projects often fill quickly, and while families and groups are encouraged to sign up together, placement on the same project cannot be guaranteed. Registration for Folsom Cordova Unified School District projects will open separately on September 1, but most other opportunities are already available to the public.
This year’s event is presented by Dignity Health and the City of Folsom, alongside dozens of community sponsors and partners. Those interested in volunteering can learn more and register at www.folsom.ca.us/communityserviceday.
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