Turlock faith-based organizations and various community businesses will be putting their good intentions into action on April 28 as part of the Love Turlock event.
The one-day volunteer event will put hundreds of participants to work painting, picking up trash, weeding and helping seniors with household maintenance.
Love Turlock was modeled after the success of Love Modesto in 2009, but got its roots from local event Servolution five years ago.
New Life Christian Center started Servolution in an effort to help the community through volunteer services and transitioned to Love Turlock in recent years.
The event has seen over 1,200 volunteers participate over the past years and logged nearly 38,500 service hours. Organizers encourage volunteers to sign up Sunday, but people can also still participate by showing up early the day of the event.
“We’re showing people the difference they can make in one day so they’ll have an idea of what else they can do the other 364 days,” said New Life Pastor David Larson.
This year’s event has an expanded list of projects such as, distributing food to the hungry, visiting convalescent homes, blood drives, building houses for Habitat for Humanity and city park maintenance.
Organizers said Love Turlock is a great volunteer opportunity for everyone — kids, elderly and disabled. There’s is a job for everyone and all kinds of people.
“Most of our jobs are kid-friendly,” said Larson. “We’ve even seen elderly and people in wheelchairs participate and paint houses before.”
As of Wednesday, Love Turlock has 600 volunteers registered to help in the 56 various projects available, but the bulk of their volunteers always come right before the event.
“Volunteer numbers really increase in the last week,” said volunteer Craig Brooks.
Love Turlock staff hopes this event will provide a conduit for community involvement year around.
“It’s really a gateway for people to discover how they can help,” said Brooks.
After completing projects volunteers are also welcomed to join a community barbeque at Columbia Park on the day of the event.
To volunteer for Love Turlock on April 28, visit loveturlock.com.
