LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Moraga Community Service Day sets new records in volunteers and humanitarian aid


Photos provided

The Moraga Community Service Day was a great success this year, with families and community members providing pride, spirit, and a great sense of giving from the volunteers who generously helped out.

There were 16 projects to choose from, with churches and businesses added to the event this year and over 700 hundred volunteers showed up to answer the call to "Care, Give And Connect."

One of the favorite projects involved families bringing their kids to paint messages and scenes of kindness on pots and rocks, and then donating them to local seniors.

Another favorite was assembling 1,341 Lady Bug Bags, which contain feminine hygiene products for unhoused women.

School projects were abundant, with Campolindo and Saint Mary's hosting projects inviting the community to come help in their sustainable gardens. The Moraga School District had beautification events at their three elementary campuses focused on weeding, cleaning and mulching, in addition to assembling 91 emergency containers for classrooms.

Humanitarian projects included the assembling of 9,500 eyeglasses for donation to developing nations; donations of 674 items to Community Violence Solutions for victims of sexual abuse/domestic abuse; hand knitting 225 caps and scarves for patients of chemotherapy and the unhoused; 764 bags of clothing donations; 402 meals of food donations; 30 pints of blood donations; as well as gardening at the Commons and Rheem triangle for beautification.

Moraga Community Service Day is led by Community leaders Julie Parks (MSD), Andy Boggeri and Karla Juarez (Lions), Bobbie Preston, Katie Bidstrup (Chamber of Commerce), Larry Jacobs (Kiwanis), Janice Lieu (Garden Club), Wendell Baker (iKind), Ann Drevno (Saint Mary's), Brent Rubey (Campolindo) and Mike McCluer (Rotary).

Speaking for the group, Mike McCluer said; "This event represents months of meetings, new project ideas and discussions, project logistics, organization of resources, a comprehensive communication and engagement plan by these very busy community leaders with full-time jobs. It's incredibly rewarding to all of us to see the record volunteer turnout and the many ways in which we helped those in need, our schools and beautification of the community."

The impact of this Community Day will be felt beyond the city limits, as many of the projects involved international assistance.