Folsom’s 10th annual Community Service Day is just days ahead and residents who haven’t signed up to participate in one of the many projects across the city this Saturday, Sept. 16, can still do so as a handful of volunteer opportunities still have a few openings, whether it’s helping on a landscaping project or a neighbor in need, there’s a way for everyone to be part of Folsom’s big day of philanthropy.
Community Service Day in Folsom is a citywide initiative that unites thousands of volunteers in accomplishing numerous service projects across the city, leaving a positive and lasting impact. Projects range from landscaping, repairing area parks, cleaning various areas, trail improvements, a city wide food drive and much more each year.
In the past, this event has had a collaborative 19,000 volunteers since its inception 10 years ago, completing over 900 projects for city areas, over 500 exterior projects for area senior and collected over 537,000 pound of food in its citywide food drive on the same day. But there is still much work to do across the city of Folsom and your participation is needed.
2023 Folsom Community Service Day Committee Chair Justin Raithel took to the podium at Tuesday night’s city council meeting to present the number of impressive facts and figures surrounding Saturday’s big day ahead. According to Raithel, over 2000 volunteers have registered for various projects across the city, fulfilling 93% of the volunteers needed for the planned projects.
“While its great to hear we have 93% of all of the volunteer positions filled, that means that there is still 7% that we needed to fill,” said Raithel. “So anyone out there that hasn’t signed up and can, we would love to get these all filled.”
Most of the projects don’t require any special skills other than a willingness to pitch in where needed and a desire to make a positive and lasting impact in the community. Visit the event website at: www.folsomcommunityservice.org to review the many projects slated for Saturday, and sign up for the one that you feel is the best fit and still has openings.
Lesley Miller of Folsom Parks and Recreation pointed out that openings on the website may fluctuate in these final days, so if you see a project you like that is full, you may want to check back to see if any spots opened up at the last minute.
“We have seen projects fill up, then open up again with a spot or two,” Miller explained. “What happens is if someone signed up has had to change their plans for the day and cancelled their registration, that reopens some of the spots. We have some landscape positions open and we still need more volunteers in the neighbors helping neighbors projects.”
This year, Community Service Day will include more than 100 projects across the city. Raithel confimed that 73 of those projects are within the neighbors helping neighbors portion of the projects which help area seniors with projects around their homes they are unable to perform. Another 35 projects are taking place across the city, in addition to a community wide food drive just in time to restock the Twin Lakes Food Bank that is in dire need of help restocking its shelves this year. (See related story at Folsom Times.com)
“Basically if every household filled one bag of groceries and put it out for pick up Saturday morning, it would provide enough food to feed Folsom’s hungry for the entire year ahead,” said Raithel.
Residents across the city have been provided a bag over the last several weeks with instructions on how to participate in the food drive, or donate directly to the Twin Lakes Food Bank. The food drive seeks the donation of nonperishable, unexpired food items. Those participating in the drive are urged to place your filled bag on your driveway before 8 a.m. Saturday.
According to Twin Lakes Food Bank the most needed food items include:
- Cereal
- Canned tuna and chicken
- Chili
- Pasta
- Canned ravioli
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Nutrition supplement drinks (Ensure)
- Pasta sauce
Find more information about the food drive online.
In addition to the food drive, there are number of other donation drives taking place. Collections for needed items are taking place at Lakeside Church where the kickoff to Saturday’s event takes place at 745 Oak Avenue Parkway. Collections will take placef rom 7 a.m. to noon Saturday.
The different collection drives are as follows:
Community Blood Drive
As part of Folsom Community Service Day, Vitalant is hosting a community blood drive from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, September 16 at Lakeside Church, 745 Oak Avenue Parkway in Folsom. The bloodmobile bus will be located in the parking lot. Schedule an appointment online in advance. The entire donation process takes about one hour; donors must be at least age 16. For eligibility questions call Vitalant at 877-258-4825 or visit vitalant.org for more information. Your blood donation can help save a life!
Bicycles for Children and Adults – Folsom State Prison will collect new or used bicycles. The bicycles are refurbished by Folsom State Prison inmates and then later donated to community members in need.
Eyeglasses – The Folsom Host Lions Club will collect new or used eyeglasses for the Folsom Vision Project, which provides glasses to those who cannot afford them.
Yarn and Fabric – The Folsom Lake Lions Club will collect yarn to support the Hooks N Needles program at Folsom State Prison, where inmates crochet, knit, and sew a variety of items such as caps, scarves, small blankets, and toys. The collected fabric is donated to Placer County Jail, where inmates make blankets, pillows, backpacks, tree ornaments, superhero capes, and more. The finished items are then donated to a number of charitable organizations.
Happy Smiles Toy Drive – New toys for children of all ages are being collected for regional children’s hospitals and nonprofits. Items being collected include large puzzles (250-500 pieces), card games, squeeze toys/balls/fidgets, Squishmallows, Lego/Duplo kits, craft kits, gift cards (Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Target, Amazon, Walmart).
Toy/gift card donations may be brought to the Happy Smiles Toy Drive collection boxes at these locations now through September 15, and to Lakeside Church the morning of September 16:
- Folsom Public Library – 411 Stafford Street
- Safeway – 1850 Prairie City Road
- Toy Donation Drive Sponsor – 299 Fetter Court
Purses – Julie’s Purse Project will collect new and gently used purses and donate them to regional organizations that assist homeless women, survivors of sex trafficking and domestic violence, wildfire survivors, and women being released on parole from Folsom Prison.
Shelter Pet Supplies – help animals in need at the Sacramento SPCA and Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue. Items accepted: soft training treats for dogs, peanut butter (xylitol free), unopened dry dog food (for community pet pantry), cat food (canned pate style), cat toys, cardboard cat scratchers, canned unsweetened pumpkin, Kong toys for dogs (L & XL needed the most), misc dog toys, trash bags, poop bags, dog “cookie” treats, blankets (new/gently used), paper towels, and pill pockets.
Hygiene Products and Gift Wrapping Supplies – hygiene products for all ages and genders (shampoo, toothpaste, brushes, combs, soap, etc.) and Christmas gift wrapping supplies (rolls of wrapping paper, ribbon spools, bows, gift bags, etc.) are being collected for donation to WEAVE (Women Escaping a Violent Environment).
Coats – New and gently used coats are being collected for donation to regional organizations that assist homeless and foster youth.
Below is a list of the various projects for the 2023 Community Service Day, some of which volunteers are still needed for:
Neighbors Helping Seniors
Make a difference in your neighborhood with a simple act of kindness by lending a hand to our seniors! These are outdoor projects such as landscaping, weeding, gutter cleaning, or minor exterior home/fence repairs. Locations will be distributed at registration.
*Ages 10+.
Food Drive Collection Drivers and Helpers
Drivers and helpers will collect bags of food donations from neighborhoods throughout Folsom and bring them to the sorting location.
Beautifying Sutter Middle School Campus
Show your school pride and help beautify the Sutter Middle School landscape by weeding and spreading mulch. We need your help to distribute the mulch.
If you can, please bring shovels, rakes, garden tools, 5-gallon buckets & wheelbarrows to help carry mulch from the drop off point to the garden beds.
All ages; this is a great project for families to do together!
Beautifying Mangini Ranch Elementary School Campus
Show your school pride and help beautify the Mangini Ranch Elementary School landscape by weeding and spreading mulch. We need your help to distribute the mulch.
If you can, please bring shovels, rakes, garden tools, 5-gallon buckets & wheelbarrows to help carry mulch from the drop off point to the garden beds.
All ages; this is a great project for families to do together!
Lembi Pickleball Court Walkway Improvement
Improve the Lembi Park pickleball courts by removing river rock from the walkway and replacing it with gravel.
*Ages 16+.
Tree Pruning at the Duck Pond in the Parkway
Help the Friends of Folsom Parkways and the Sacramento Tree Foundation prune the trees surrounding the duck pond in the Parkway.
*Ages 18+.
Refresh Mulch for Journey Presbyterian ChurchHelp revitalize Journey Presbyterian Church by replacing the landscaping fabric and applying mulch around the property. Please bring gloves, shovels, rakes, and a wheelbarrow if you have one.
All ages; this is a great project for families to do together!
Lembi Pickleball Court Walkway Improvement
Improve the Lembi Park pickleball courts by removing river rock from the walkway and replacing it with gravel.
*Ages 16+.
To learn where volunteers are still needed and how many, just visit the official Community Service Day website at: www.folsomcommunityservice.org.
Community Service Day is organized by the City of Folsom, local businesses, and community organizations that sponsor the event. Raithel confirmed Tuesday night that more than$114,000 in overall sponsorship was secured this year, a record for the annual event.Sponsors for the 2023 event and their investment levels are as follows according to the City of Folsom:
Presenting Sponsors: Dignity Health, Intel
Visionary Sponsors: Lennar, Folsom Times, Lakeside Church, Style Media Group
Leader Sponsors: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Folsom Telegraph,Rotary Club of Folsom,
Partner Sponsors: Dokken Engineering; Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento; Kaiser Permanente; American Logowear; Elliott Homes, Inc.; Kikkoman; WinCo
Good Neighbor Sponsors: Choose Folsom, SAFE Credit Union, Sierra Marlins, CynSational Aesthetics, American River Ace Hardware, Big Wave Coffee House
“This event couldn’t happen without all of the dedicated volunteers, sponsors and our committee members,” said Raithel. “Many of our project leads have been with us since the very first year and it’s the dedication of everyone that makes this event such a success.”
