Day of Service 2010

Stake: Lakeland Florida

Community Partners: Keep Polk County Beautiful, The Great American Clean-up
Religious Partners:None Organization Served: Polk County Parks and Recreation
Influencers: Enthusiastic Volunteers
Total people involved: 45
Total volunteer hours: 90

The Highlands Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is partnering with Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. to participate in “The Great American Cleanup” event.  “The Great American Cleanup” is a nationwide cleanup initiative held during March, April and May during which volunteers choose a location in their community to clean and beautify.  Working with Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. (the coordinator in Polk County), we selected the Highland City Senior Field.  It is a 10-acre baseball field and park in our Ward boundaries that is part of our Polk County Parks and Recreation Facilities.  Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. provided our volunteers with garbage bags, gloves, and safety vests.  Our volunteers met on the morning of April 24th to enjoy some treats together and work to clean the park and a stretch of Strickland Avenue.  We picked up garbage and discarded junk filling scores of bags and deposited them at a nearby Adopt-a-Highway collection spot.  All items too large for bags were collected at a central spot for a pre-arranged pick-up by Polk County.

Contact Person: cynthiahopkins

Stake: Lakeland Florida

Community Partners: Keep Polk County Beautiful, Great American Clean-up
Religious Partners:None Organization Served: Lakeland Community
Influencers: Katie Glass, Executive Director Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc at the Eagle Lake Mall.
Total people involved: 40
Total volunteer hours: 200

The Lakeland Ward partnered with Keep Polk County Beautiful and cleaned up the area of South Crystal Lake Drive for about five hours.  The adopt a highway sign for the Church will remain visible on South Crystal Lake Drive for another year.  The Lakeland Ward will continue this effort and the adopt a highway sign for The Church will remain visible on South Crystal Lake Drive for another year.

Contact Person: cynthiahopkins

Stake: Lakeland Florida Stake

Community Partners: Seigler Funeral Home in Mulberry
Religious Partners:None Organization Served: Families of Deceased Buried in The Fitzgerald Cemetery
Influencers: Hank Lewis, a bishopric member of the ward contacted Mr. Wilkerson, caretaker of the cemetery and Mark Seigler of the Seigler Funeral Home in Mulberry. They were very appreciative that we would take time to take on this project.
Total people involved: 36
Total volunteer hours: 102

Volunteers from the Gibsonia Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met at the The Fitzgerald Cemetery in South Lakeland which was in poor condition on the Day of Service, Saturday, April 24.  The Gibsonia Ward chose to help restore a portion of the Fitzgerald Cemetery, on Fitzgerald Rd., Lakeland.  Thirty-four ward members and two non-members participated in pulling masses of moss off the large trees, and trying to restore strength to small evergreens that were being strangled by the moss.  Brooms, rakes, saws, and strong arms helped fill many bags with leaves and moss, while dead limbs looked like they were being prepared for a bonfire. Head stones were pressure washed to remove dirt and fungus collected over many years of neglect.  It was discussed how it would be great next year to have three or four wards/branches join Gibsonia Ward to be able to clear the whole cemetery in one morning. It felt good to work together – youth and adults -  and look back to see the progress that was made in just a few hours.Volunteers cleaned the entire Southeast corner/portion of the cemetery.  Since it is a privately owned cemetery, there are no provisions for perpetual care.  It was a big help to the families who have family members there as it is up to them to keep it clean.

Contact Person: cynthiahopkins

Stake: Lakeland Florida Stake

Community Partners: City of Lakeland
Organization Served: City of Lakeland Department of Parks and Services
Influencers: Scott Cornelius of Crystal Lake Branch & Cindy Hill, Lakes Program Coordinator for Lakeland Department of Parks and Services
Total people involved: 45
Total volunteer hours: 101.5

Volunteers from The Crystal Lake Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints picked up litter in the Lake Parker Park and along the lakeshore.  The city provided the garbage bags, litter pickers, and plastic gloves.  We collected at least 28 bags of garbage.  After the clean-up the branch remained in the park at a pavilion to have a cook out and to play soccer and enjoy the park’s many activities.  The branch presidency cooked hamburgers and hotdogs for all.

Contact Person: cynthiahopkins

Stake: Lakeland Florida Stake

Community Partners: None
Religious Partners:None Organization Served: Junior Diabetes Research Foundation
Influencers: Melissa Williams searched on volunteermatch.org to become aware of this event. She then contacted Carole Brennan of the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation.
Total people involved: 33
Total volunteer hours: 198

It went great! The Junior Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) holds three walks in this area each year to raise money for research. We provided volunteer support for the event by manning the booths, registration, t-shirt hand out, food, children’s area, etc.

Contact Person: cynthiahopkins

Name of Organization:

The Fitzgerald Cemetary in South Lakeland

Location and Time:

We will meet at 9:00 am at the corner of Fitzgerald Rd. and Jay Street in Lakeland, FL 33813

Activity/responsibility:

The purpose of our project is to clean the cemetary, remove debris, fallen limbs, weeds, etc.  We will concentrate on the street corner.  This is a private cemetery and is currently in poor condition.  It is our goal to assist the families whose deceased family members are buried there by helping with the cleaning and clearing.

Tools or skills required:

Shovels, hoes, rakes, chainsaws, wheel barrows and other gardening tools and equipment.

Ages:

For all ages.

Additional Notes:

We’ve contacted the Seigler Funeral Home in Mulberry along with some families who own plots in the Fitzgerald Cemetery located in South Lakeland.  They are very grateful that we’ve chosen this as our project.

Download flyer:

Links:

Contact Person: Phyllis Hartman

Volunteer Now!

Name: Email: Phone: Ward/Organization: Event Name: Enter this value: Here:

Name of Organization:

Lake Parker Park

Location and Time:

Meet in parking lot of shuffleboard area at Lake Parker in Lakeland, Florida
8:30 am

Activity/responsibility:

The Crystal Lake branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and whoever would like to join with them will meet in the parking lot for the shuffleboard area. We will work with the city to clean the park and pick up litter.  The city will provide the garbage backs, litter pickers, and plastic gloves.  In addition the city will direct us to the areas that need cleaned the most.  After the clean-up the branch will remain in the park at a pavilion to have a cook out and to enjoy the park’s many activities.  The branch presidency will cook hamburgers and hotdogs for all.  The rest of the food will be potluck

Tools or skills required:

None

Ages:

All ages

Additional Notes:

Download flyer:

Links:

Contact Person: Scott Cornelius

Volunteer Now!

Name: Email: Phone: Ward/Organization: Event Name: Enter this value: Here:

Name of Organization:

Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc

Location and Time:

5901 Strickland Ave.
Lakeland, FL 33813

8:30 am

Activity/responsibility:

The Highlands Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is partnering with Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. to participate in “The Great American Cleanup” event.  “The Great American Cleanup” is a nationwide cleanup initiative held during March, April and May during which volunteers choose a location in their community to clean and beautify.  Working with Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. (the coordinator in Polk County), we have selected the Highland City Senior Field.  It is a 10-acre baseball field and park in our Ward boundaries that is part of our Polk County Parks and Recreation Facilities.  Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. will provide our volunteers with garbage bags, gloves, and safety vests.  Our volunteers will meet on the morning of April 24th to enjoy some treats together and work to clean the park and a stretch of Strickland Avenue.  We’ll be picking up all garbage and discarded junk and hauling it to a pre-selected location for removal.

Tools or skills required:

*Desire to work and have fun together
*Wheelbarrows
*pick-up trucks to collect and transport wast

Ages:

All ages—Parents will need to supervise their children.  Small Children will not be permitted to do the roadside clean-up.

Additional Notes:

Download flyer:

Links:

Contact Person: Bishop Bill Bailey

Volunteer Now!

Name: Email: Phone: Ward/Organization: Event Name: Enter this value: Here:

Name of Organization:

Keep Polk County Beautiful

Location and Time:

South Crystal Lake Drive
Lakeland, FL

8:00 am till noon

Activity/responsibility:

The Lakeland ward has partnered with Keep Polk County Beautiful (located in Eagle Ridge Mall) and will start the day by cleaning up South Crystal Lake Drive. We will then do clean up around the area as needed to put in four hours of work time.  Our adopt a highway sign for the Church will remain visible on South Crystal Lake Drive for another year. We expect about 40 people to show up on Saturday morning.

Tools or skills required:

None

Ages:

All ages

Additional Notes:

Download flyer:

Links:

Contact Person: Teresa Choquette

Volunteer Now!

Name: Email: Phone: Ward/Organization: Event Name: Enter this value: Here:

Name of Organization:

Diabetes Awareness Walk at Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland, Florida

Location and Time:

Lake Hollingsworth (Across from Florida Southern)
111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive
Lakeland, FL 33801
Registration will begin at 8:00 am.
Walk begins at 9:00 am

Activity/responsibility:

The Tampa Bay Charter of the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation will be holding a walk to raise awareness and funds on the day of service at Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland,Florida. The members of the Christina will serve as volunteers to help run the walk.

Tools or skills required:

None

Ages:

+12

Additional Notes:

Download flyer:

Links: http://walk.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=walk.walk&eventID=5764&chapterid=4140

Contact Person: Melissa

Volunteer Now!

Name: Email: Phone: Ward/Organization: Event Name: Enter this value: Here: