Orinda Action Day is April 25, and volunteers can sign up in advance on the city’s web site or simply come to the Community Center at 9 a.m.
Orinda needs spring cleaning too – and Orinda Action Day is the perfect opportunity.
On Saturday, April 25, residents of all ages can help make Orinda brighter by joining in a community-wide effort that starts at 9 a.m. at the Community Center. There will be donuts and coffee for the volunteers, who can sign up in advance or on the morning of, for a variety of projects all over Orinda.
Of course there are projects right near the Community Center, but groups will also fan out to Orinda Oaks Park, Wilder Park and Wagner Ranch to pick up litter, clean Bigbelly trash cans and generally make the city look better.
“No action is too small,” said James Keefe of the Orinda Community Foundation (OCF), which supplies funds for the event. “The most important thing is making people aware of how individuals and families can improve their city.”
And the family aspect is key, as many of the projects are designed for youngsters to participate in. Not surprisingly, Orinda-based Mindful Littles – an organization that encourages children to volunteer – is involved, and this year, Orinda Parks and Rec Director Todd Trimble will take some time to make sure everyone understands how important volunteers are in every community.
“Before we start the projects, we’re going to spend a little time talking about the benefits of Action Day,” he said.
And those benefits have resulted in the steady growth of the event. “We’re starting to see Scout troops come back every year,” he said.
One reason people do come back is that the projects don’t involve heavy labor, and the process is user-friendly. “It’s pretty informal,” said Trimble, and the day’s work is done by 11:30 a.m.
Originally, there was a closer tie to Earth Day (April 22), and Trimble and the OCF still keep that connection. “We do it the closest Saturday to Earth Day,” said Trimble, and in fact Miramonte’s week-long celebration of Earth Day is also linked to Orinda Action Day.
The Miramonte Leadership class will celebrate Environmental Spirit Week Monday through Friday, and Saturday will be an on-campus beautification day.
