Volunteering in your community is the best way to give back and to make a difference in not only your life but the lives and surroundings in your community. In recognition of what a community can do when it comes together, a National Day of Service, October 26 was proclaimed three years ago.
With a mission that consists of advocating, beautification, education and conservation it seemed only natural that the Friends of Mansfield Parks (FOMP) would come together to create a day of volunteering dedicated to the revitalization of the parks in and around Mansfield. The volunteer group from the FOMP worked Saturday to make a difference.
Rich Hartman, a volunteer and member of the FOMP said, ”A lot of people don’t realize that Mansfield has over 30 parks. Many of them have not been maintained and are no longer in use, others need attention. Just some cleaning and repairs, a few hours would make a difference. That’s why we are doing this.”
Starting at South Park the group made a well-constructed, organized plan to do some simple but necessary cleaning, repairing and winterizing of some of the local parks in the area. Picking up trash, pruning dogwoods and cleaning sandstone curbing at the Park Avenue West entrance and planting daffodils, winterizing the community garden and repairing the park sign were all on the days agenda.
Because of the cold weather conditions on Saturday volunteer Dalton Derr stated that he was not sure if the group would get to all of the tasks on the list. “The bridge is out at Middle Park, so that needs repaired,” said Derr. He added, ”Money, time and resources and of course more volunteers. That’s what it comes down to. If we had more of that we could really make a difference.”
Leanna Giesige of Mid Ohio Educational Service Center said, ”We look for opportunities such as Make a Difference Day to get youth involved with their community. Our desire is to expose them to opportunities that will foster leadership potential. Community service such as this does just that.” Giesige and a group of teens joined other volunteers in the afternoon projects.
Making a Difference Day is the nation’s largest day of citizens volunteering to make communities stronger, a day to lend a helping hand.
If you are interested in volunteering individually or in a group and would like more information please contact, Downtown Mansfield, Inc., at info@downtownmansfield.com, call 419-522-0099 or visit www.downtownmansfield.com.
Rich Hartman, a volunteer and member of the FOMP said, ”A lot of people don’t realize that Mansfield has over 30 parks. Many of them have not been maintained and are no longer in use, others need attention. Just some cleaning and repairs, a few hours would make a difference. That’s why we are doing this.”
