The day began with a kickoff celebration at Rancho Cordova City Hall featuring breakfast, music and remarks from local leaders. Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Cordova

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Hundreds of residents in matching volunteer shirts gathered at City Hall with coffee cups in hand, ready to spend their weekend planting trees, painting murals, repairing homes and cleaning creeks instead of sleeping in.

More than 400 volunteers participated in Rancho Cordova’s third annual Spring Service Day on May 16, taking part in 24 projects across the city focused on beautification, environmental stewardship and community support.

The day began with a kickoff celebration at Rancho Cordova City Hall featuring breakfast, music and remarks from local leaders before volunteers dispersed to project sites throughout the city.

Projects included home repairs through Rebuilding Together Sacramento, waterways cleanup with the city’s Public Works Department, a public mural in Cordova Meadows, school beautification projects and book cleaning at the Sacramento Public Library.

More than 400 volunteers participated in Rancho Cordova’s third annual Spring Service Day on May 16, taking part in 24 projects across the city. Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Cordova

“This really is a day where we get to serve each other and serve the community in a great way,” City Manager Micah Runner told volunteers during the morning kickoff. “This really shows the excitement and things that are happening here and the growth that is happening year to year.”

City officials said the event has grown significantly since its launch three years ago.

“This is our third year, and the first year we had 16 projects with about 300 volunteers,” said Lorianne Carl, the city’s community engagement manager. “Then our second year, we went up to about 20 projects, and we had 350 volunteers, and today we are exceeding 400. We ordered 500 shirts and they are all gone.”

Carl said the event has helped revive volunteerism following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This has really reignited volunteerism,” she said. “I see some of the same people every year. I see new people every year. It’s incredible.”

Throughout the day, volunteers spread across Rancho Cordova carrying paint brushes, trash bags, gardening tools and shovels as projects transformed schools, parks, neighborhoods and public spaces. Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Cordova

Mayor Garrett Gatewood praised the volunteers for dedicating their Saturday to service projects across the city.

“We appreciate you,” Gatewood said during the kickoff celebration. “We got up early and we’re helping our community. It means nothing but shows what it really is to be a Cordovian.”

Gatewood said the event reflects the city’s strong sense of community pride.

“You’re about to have the most amazing experience,” he said. “This just shows what a great community we really are.”

Volunteers worked on projects ranging from painting picnic tables and planter boxes at New Pacific Charter School to evaluating and cleaning library books for circulation.

Jessica Felps, who helped organize the campus beautification project at New Pacific Charter School, said families and students were eager to participate.

“We just want to make sure that our school looks good for the neighborhood,” Felps said. “I didn’t sleep last night. Everybody’s excited at the school.”

Hundreds of residents in matching volunteer shirts gathered at City Hall for the third annual Spring Service Day. Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Cordova

At the Rancho Cordova Food Locker, Executive Director Carrie Johnson said the event has introduced new volunteers to local nonprofit organizations.

“The biggest effect is that we’ve gained new volunteers,” Johnson said. “It builds the idea of volunteering. Like, it’s a good thing. Like, I want to be part of something.”

Councilmember David M. Sander, Ph.D. said the event highlights how community partnerships can strengthen neighborhoods.

“The greatest thing that I feel, and I see when I’m here, is that these people love their communities,” Sander said. “Where people want to live is where people care about the future of the place.”

Sander said the city’s focus on building strong neighborhoods and partnerships has helped the event continue to expand.

“You have to develop partnerships,” he said. “The power of the public out here, and the nonprofit organizations, and the companies and other potential partners, is massive compared to us.”

Local businesses and organizations also supported the event through sponsorships and project partnerships.

Anne Descalzo, co-founder of title sponsor The RADZ Group, said service and community involvement are central to the organization’s mission.

“The simple acts of painting a park bench, or planting a tree, or packing supplies, make our city stronger,” Descalzo said.

Rancho Cordova volunteers are true rock stars, gathering bright and early for the third annual Spring Service Day. Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Cordova

Terrance McNamara of Atlas Disposal said the event reflects the city’s longstanding volunteer spirit.

“Anything good that’s ever happened in this city has happened because people stepped up,” McNamara said.

Throughout the day, volunteers spread across Rancho Cordova carrying paint brushes, trash bags, gardening tools and shovels as projects transformed schools, parks, neighborhoods and public spaces.

For Sandy Runner, a Spring Service Day committee member, the event’s growth has been rewarding to watch.

“We wanted to create a day where everybody could come together and serve and meet their neighbors and just make a really big impact in the community,” Runner said. “It’s incredible to see it grow just in two years.”