By KRISTI MAYFIELD
Through the clouds and the mist, the residents of Oakdale came out to show their support for their friends and neighbors at the recent Love Oakdale community day of service. An estimated 600 volunteers donned their rain jackets and hoods and came together on Saturday, April 26 to work on various projects from beautifying the schools to cleaning up the river to providing hygiene kits for underserved communities. At the opening rally in the Oakdale Community Park, though it was a little wet from overnight rain, that didn’t dampen the spirits of those that were dancing and hugging their friends and neighbors as everyone gathered to celebrate another year of life in The Cowboy Capital of the World.
As special awards were distributed to citizens that have demonstrated selfless acts of giving to the community, Danielle Sanders kept the crowd on their feet with her T-shirt gun shooting skills. As the project leaders were announced onstage, many were first time leaders while others, like Anthony Pratt, were returning veterans. Pratt was celebrating his fifth year working as a project leader with plans to continue volunteering with Love Oakdale for many years to come.
From building Bags of Compassion for the organization Without Permission to landscaping and cleaning up notable sites such as the Community United Methodist Church to beautifying local school campuses, the groups of volunteers worked hard all morning long to get their assigned jobs completed.
Firefighters from the Modesto Fire Department stations in town worked to clean around The Cowboy Museum while the Promotoras of Oakdale tied green ribbons around trees to highlight the month of May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month. Volunteers of all ages came out to support the community and those on the receiving end of their efforts were very grateful as well.
“I really appreciate this. It looks so much better already,” said William Cook, who visited with volunteers while they worked on his landscaping.
Cook, a longtime Oakdale resident, enjoys working in his yard but was very happy to have some help with landscaping near his driveway this year.
Other volunteers such as Hank Reece and Scout Troop 365 members spent their day cleaning, weeding, mowing and organizing a very special area for the Community United Methodist Church.
“They have had this great room and outside area with a basketball court and picnic benches for years but it just needed to be cleaned up,” said Reece as he and his group of more than 30 volunteers worked to bring the old meeting room and outdoor area back to life. Once the outdoor area and meeting room are ready to go the church is hoping that many groups will come to meet and socialize in their backyard.
As the morning of work came to an end, volunteers were treated to a meal served up by the Oakdale Lions Club at Dying Breed Brewing. From the lively flow of conversation and the grateful feeling of doing good things together, families and friends gathered to share food and beverages while reflecting on another successful day of service to the community.
For more information, visit: https://loveoakdale.com/
