About 300 people showed up Saturday morning to volunteer for "Building Community," a community service cleanup event at ASU East.
The purpose of the event was to promote a greater sense of community pride, responsibility and unity. The event was organized and headed by Vernon Dickson, a resident and family program resident assistant on the Williams campus.
"Some of the major donations came from Baci's Bistro [and] Wal-Mart; and K-Mart donated so many plants that residents could use to plant around their yards," Dickson said.
The event started at 8 a.m., and volunteers worked until noon to clean up 20 different service sites on campus. A team leader was assigned to each location and was responsible for a group of volunteers.
Volunteers worked at raking leaves, removing weeds, trimming lawns, removing dead trees, planting trees and trimming oleanders. There were also humanitarian projects like quilting, making school bags, cleaning and preparing toys and volunteering to baby-sit for parents who were helping out that day.
The city of Mesa loaned a variety of gardening tools as part of its "Clean Sweep" program. The housing department and Williams Campus Government combined spent $500 to purchase tools that residents would be able to borrow whenever they needed them.
"Now we have a tool library," Dickson said, "so residents don't have to spend the money on tools. When they need to work in the yard, they can borrow the tools."
Up to 25 groups came to help clean up around east campus, including the American Indian Programs, St. Mary Magdalene, Project Challenge, Williams Community School, The Boy Scouts of America, Williams Village Governments, Hillel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Chandler-Gilbert's Service Learning Program.
House Majority Leader Eddie Farnsworth sponsored the event, according to a press release.
"I know that Family Programming has attempted this in the past, but they only advertised locally. We went straight to groups, clubs and stores to ask for help. Some said yes, and some said no," Dickson said.
Todd and Becky Wolford, team leaders for the South Desert Village area and East campus residents, said, "We were chosen last night to fill in for someone else. We're excited to spruce up the community."
When asked what the biggest challenge was, Dickson said, "bringing it all together with the groups coming in and handling all the donations."
Team leader Jennifer Rich with Project Challenge said, "We have 70 students out here in different locations. We are assigned landscape beautification. We are going to sweep all the debris and pick up trash in the areas."
ASU East resident Jay Higby said, "I live here, and it is no big deal to put in a little work." Higby helped prepare the Williams Community School cafeteria for repainting.
Dallyn Sandor, an Eagle Scout for troop 893, organized and recruited people and brought donations of 20 Arizona elm and pine trees from two nurseries to plant at various playgrounds on East.
"I hope residents will water them now," said Sandor.
"It's impressive how a community can come together and make a difference," said John Farnsworth, a volunteer and a resident at East.
Reach the reporter at erika.camardella@asu.edu.
