Thousands of volunteers expected for Love Modesto. Other cities have projects, too
Thousands of volunteers are ready to work on community projects Saturday as Love Modesto begins a 14th year of sprucing up the city.
Organizers are expecting 2,000 people when the activities kick off in downtown Modesto at 8 a.m. The day begins with a gathering and family-friendly activities at I and 10th streets in front of the Gallo Center for the Arts before volunteers go to their project locations.
The kickoff will feature music, giveaways, refreshments and activities for kids. People can sign up for work the day of the event but preregistration is preferred.
A pancake breakfast begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 8:30 a.m. A $10 donation goes to help fund Love Modesto. The North Modesto Kiwanis suggests making a reservation for the breakfast.
One project this year is a community car wash in which volunteers will wash fire engines and police cars for public safety agencies. The project is seen as a way to bring community members together, said Bryan Justin Marks, executive director of Love Stanislaus County.
In addition to service projects in Modesto, other cities and towns are getting into the act Saturday, including Ceres, Turlock, Keyes, Empire, Oakdale, Patterson and Waterford.
Marks said he expects 3,000 to 4,000 will volunteer for 160 projects countywide.
“We still had projects in the last couple of years during COVID,” Marks said. “Now, we are back. We have made some wonderful additions for this year.”
The Love Modesto volunteer day in spring 2020 was suspended by the state’s COVID-19 shutdowns but community projects were held in October that year.
Volunteer days were held in spring and fall of 2021. Love Modesto is returning to a single spring event to beautify communities in 2022, organizers said.
More information about Love Modesto is found at www.lovemodesto.com.
This story was originally published April 28, 2022 at 12:25 PM.
