FOLSOM — The spirit of service once again swept through Folsom on Saturday as thousands of residents of all ages came together for the 12th annual Community Service Day. What began more than a decade ago as a call to action has become the city’s single largest day of volunteerism, and this year’s edition once again proved how philanthropy, teamwork, and civic pride remain at the core of Folsom’s identity.
Organized by the City of Folsom in partnership with businesses, faith groups, nonprofits, and schools, the day mobilized volunteers to complete dozens of projects designed to leave a lasting mark. From beautifying campuses and restoring nature trails to assembling military care packages and stocking the shelves of the Twin Lakes Food Bank, the work spanned nearly every corner of the community.
A morning of unity and purpose
The day began at Lakeside Church, where volunteers checked in early, received their signature Community Service Day T-shirts, a volunteer bag, and breakfast before fanning out to sites across the city. Before teams departed, community leaders and members of the Community Service Day steering committee addressed the crowd.
Mayor Sarah Aquino recognized the many people behind the scenes who make the day possible. “There are a lot of people who work all year long behind the scenes to make this event possible,” Aquino told the crowd, pointing to the steering committee members gathered on stage. “As soon as this event is over, they will literally start planning our event for next year. Also want to thank our fantastic city staff for all the work they put into this event. And then of course this event would not happen without all of our very generous sponsors.”
Volunteers gather at Lakeside Church (Top photo by Adam Frick) See more below.
Steering committee chair Sandy Econome echoed that gratitude, thanking the sponsors and especially the project leaders. “Thank you to all of our sponsors,” Econome said. “And I also want to take a moment to thank all of you people that have chosen to step up and take a leadership role this year. So the tie dye shirts, everyone is leading some kind of project. So a little more responsibility, so thank you for doing that. We need that. And I definitely want to just make sure that all of our wonderful steering committee members are acknowledged.”
Lisa Hausmann, CEO of Dignity Health Mercy Folsom, the event’s presenting sponsor, also praised the spirit of the morning. “On behalf of Dignity Health, we are incredibly honored to be here today to support Community Service Day at the City of Folsom,” she said. “We want to take a minute to thank all of you for coming out this morning and dedicating your time. I am truly blown away every year at the incredible turnout in this community. So really speaks to the special community that we live in. So with that, let’s make it a great day and go Volta. Thank you so much.”
Behind the scenes, volunteers at the Solutions Desk at Lakeside Church helped organize check-in, coordinate assignments, and provide guidance for participants, ensuring the large-scale operation ran smoothly from the very start. By mid-morning, crews were spread out to more than 40 different projects, each with a unique focus but united in the common mission of giving back.
A citywide food drive at a critical time
The citywide food drive once again served as a cornerstone of the effort and represented one of the most impactful elements of Community Service Day. More than 400 volunteers spent the previous week delivering empty grocery bags and a food “wish list” to every doorstep in Folsom. On Saturday morning, those volunteers returned, picking up bags left curbside by 8 a.m. and ensuring they made their way to Mount Olive Lutheran Church for sorting.
As of Saturday evening, totals were still being tallied. Last year, more than 56,000 pounds of food were collected, providing much-needed supplies for over 18,000 local families served by Twin Lakes Food Bank. The goal this year was to surpass that amount, and judging by the steady flow of bags arriving at collection points, there was optimism the mark would be reached.
The donations focus on the food bank’s most pressing needs, including healthy cereals, canned chicken, pasta and pasta sauce, chili, low-sodium soups and broths, and canned fruits and vegetables. Together, these items fill pantries for families who are struggling with food insecurity and help sustain the nonprofit’s mission well into the holiday season.
Lisa Tuter, executive director of Twin Lakes Food Bank, offered heartfelt thanks as volunteers worked tirelessly to unload and sort donations. “Twin Lakes Food Bank cannot feed our hungry neighbors in this community without the food provided by our neighbors,” she said. “A big part of making these donations reach the pantries of our food-insecure neighbors is the work that you all are doing. I see a lot of sweat—I’m glad I’m not seeing any blood—and a lot of love. I love the spirit here. Thank you, on behalf of everyone at Twin Lakes Food Bank, for being here and helping our neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity.”
Alongside the food drive, residents donated bicycles, eyeglasses, yarn, fabric, toys, pet supplies, hygiene products, purses filled with essentials, holiday gift wrap, and school supplies. The steady stream of drop-offs at Lakeside Church reflected the wide scope of needs met through the annual donation drive.
The scope of Saturday’s work stretched across the city, reflecting the event’s expansive vision. Volunteers tackled projects in neighborhoods, schools, parks, churches, and community facilities, each effort leaving behind a tangible result.
At the Neighbors Helping Seniors project, residents assisted older adults with home maintenance, yard work, repairs, and preparations for winter.
On the natural side, crews worked at the Hinkle Creek Nature Trail, clearing brush and debris along the trail from Oak Avenue to Baldwin Dam Road. Another group focused on the Black Miners Bar area at Lake Natoma, restoring the beauty of this popular riverside spot. Folsom Ranch’s White Rock Trail also received attention, with volunteers cleaning up and improving the well-traveled pathway.
In parks, the impact was widespread. At BT Collins Park, one team built shade structures and upgraded tee pads at the disc golf course while another focused on additional recreation enhancements. Livermore Park saw its softball fields improved, while Lembi Park crews removed ladder fuels and worked on open space trail safety. Volunteers at Natoma Station landscaped public areas and painted wrought iron fencing at the corner of Turnpike and Blue Ravine. East Natoma Street hosted the Tree TLC project, where volunteers tended to the health of the city’s trees. The Folsom Community Center also benefitted from a grounds beautification project.
Schools were a major focus of the day. At Empire Oaks Elementary, Mangini Ranch Elementary, and Russell Ranch Elementary, teams mulched and landscaped campuses. Sandra J. Gallardo Elementary had areas freshly painted, while at Carl Sundahl Elementary, volunteers built a playhouse and storage space for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms. Granite School also received landscaping improvements. At the secondary level, crews spread mulch and improved grounds at Folsom High School and cleaned up trails around Folsom Middle School.
Churches and community facilities saw improvements as well. At Mount Olive Lutheran Church, teams painted and removed wallpaper, while others worked at The Bridge Community Church, where projects included painting, tree trimming, restroom remodeling, and renovating the Stained Glass Room interior. Volunteers also painted at VFW Post 6604.
Specialized projects reflected Folsom’s diversity of needs. At the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad, volunteers cleaned up rail equipment. At the Twin Lakes Food Bank garden shed, crews completed upgrades to support food distribution. Inside the Folsom Public Library, groups not only tackled wallpaper removal but also participated in Girls Love Mail letter writing, creating heartfelt messages for cancer patients. Another group prepared materials for Red Ribbon Week, an annual drug prevention campaign. At the Veterans Hall, volunteers assembled care packages for active-duty military members. Meanwhile, others gathered at the Community Center to sew small pillows for the Port Pals project.
Straight Line Roofing was once again very much involved in the efforts for another year. This time, it was donating their skilled professionals to re-roof the reptile structure at City of Folsom Zoo Sanctuary. The local company did a similar project last year on additional structures at the zoo and previously at the Twin Lakes Food Bank. Their contribution accomplishes a needed task, while keeping the dangerous high level work in the hands of the professionals and not residents.
In addition to hands-on projects, compassion took center stage in other ways. The Vitalant Blood Drive at Folsom Fire Station 35 gave residents a chance to save lives. Donors lined up to contribute, each pint representing another way to give back. Volunteers served as greeters, check-in support, and refreshment hosts to ensure the drive ran smoothly.
Meanwhile, the food drive volunteers collected thousands of bags of donations, and drivers ensured deliveries reached collection sites. Helpers across neighborhoods, including members of local faith groups and service clubs, played key roles in ensuring no food bag was left behind.
Since its launch in 2014, Community Service Day has delivered remarkable results: more than 23,000 volunteers, 1,050 completed projects, and hundreds of thousands of pounds of food collected. Saturday’s success added to that legacy, reinforcing the event’s reputation as a model of civic collaboration.
Behind the scenes, dozens of local sponsors helped make it possible. Presenting sponsors included Dignity Health and the City of Folsom. Visionary sponsors ranged from Lennar and Lakeside Church to Folsom Times and the Folsom Telegraph. Leader sponsors included the Rotary Club of Folsom, Goodfellow Bros., and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with many additional partner and good neighbor sponsors lending support.
The result was a city alive with energy, goodwill, and a sense of shared purpose. Families worked side by side, children learned the value of service, and seniors received the support they needed. Parks and schools looked brighter, food banks fuller, and trails cleaner, all in a single morning of action.
Now surpassing its 12th year, Community Service Day had become far more than an event—it was a reflection of Folsom itself. The projects varied each year, but the spirit remained constant: a city where people showed up for one another and proved, time and again, that community was built by hands joined in service.
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