Volunteers ventured out into the City of Action on Saturday, April 13 for the return of the Love Riverbank campaign led by One Church Riverbank. The beautiful sunny day with a cool breeze swirling through the air provided the perfect conditions for a day of work outside.
People gathered at the Community Center on Santa Fe Street in Riverbank around 8 a.m. where they were treated to a cup of coffee donated by Starbucks and muffins. Participants were able to register online, however, there was also a table set up for people to walk up and register that day signing a waiver, receiving a raffle ticket, and a City of Action T-shirt.
Coordinator, Pastor Tracey Traub, greeted all the kind souls that took time out of their busy lives to volunteer. He also recognized the city officials that were present and ready to work including Mayor Richard O’Brien, Vice Mayor Darlene Barber-Martinez, Councilmembers Cal Campbell, Luis Uribe, and Cindy Fosi. Riverbank City Manager Sean Scully participated in a project and Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District (SCFPD) Chief Michael Whorton showed his support at the rally.
Riverbank Police Services Deputy Walsh was at the rally where he was given a special treat of cookies in appreciation for his services from Central Valley Community Resources as did SCFPD, and city staff the day before.
“Love Riverbank was awesome,” expressed Scully. “A number of City Councilmembers participated in various projects throughout the community. Tracey Traub and the One Church people did an excellent job coordinating and managing the event.”
The raffle ticket that each participant received was for a barbeque grill donated by the Home Depot. They were a show of force at the Love Riverbank event as part of Team Depot with about 60 volunteers from Riverbank, Tracy, Lodi, and Turlock to name a few. You could see an orange T-shirt at just about every project throughout Riverbank.
A returning Riverbank High School graduate, Kenny Veliz, participated in the event to show his support for the community that he grew up in with a reminder that this is a good way to give back.
The Home Depot team that took on the Silva Park project came from all over the area and most of them never participated in a Love your city campaign before. So this experience was a first. Along with the general cleanup of the park they also planted annuals, laid out bark, primed and painted the wall at the basketball court.
There were two alleys that had groups of about 20 volunteers including Home Depot team members and Riverbank High School students. They picked up trash along with removal of weeds and other debris on Ross and Ward Avenues.
The community center had the removal of dead vines and the pool area had signs repainted and other walls primed and painted.
Hutcheson and Castleberg Parks not only received general clean up but flowers and 15 gallon trees planted. The exterior walls of the restrooms were primed and painted at Castleberg Park as well.
Jacob Myers Park was shown some Love with fresh bark and annuals planted by the sign and the rocket.
Two senior citizens got their yards cleaned up and California Elementary School had their grounds trash picked up.
Home Depot donated over $7,000 worth of supplies and tools for the Love Riverbank event, Self-Help Credit Union donated the shirts, O’Brien’s Market donated some items and Starbucks donated coffee and tea.
Lunch was also provided for the volunteers that began at noon.
“We are extremely grateful to all of the volunteers who chose to donate their time to the projects in Riverbank,” stated Scully. “We are also incredibly grateful to Home Depot who not only donated the majority of the materials for the projects but also brought many volunteers in to help with the projects. It is a great example of the pride Riverbank citizens have in their community.”
