The large signs have been placed around town and the buzz has begun, as the community prepares for Oakdale’s annual community service event, giving the town as well as its neighbors a little TLC.

A day which is known to most as “Love Oakdale,” is just a bit more complex, as well as empowering than it seems.

“April 29 is Love Oakdale citywide volunteer day. It’s not Love Oakdale,” Love Oakdale Director Lisa Kjeldgaard shared. “Love Oakdale exists to help non-profits throughout the year. Literally anybody with a need, can call anytime.”

While the event has received a city proclamation for the last Saturday of April every year, the director’s point is perhaps best illustrated through her efforts via a weekly raffle during the Third Avenue road construction project. Kjeldgaard’s efforts to support downtown business at that time was under the umbrella of Love Oakdale.

The day, April 29, however is an opportunity for the community to rally as a whole to divide and conquer, making a big impact in several places. A total of 40 projects are currently on the docket for that day, requiring a total of 400 volunteers to fully execute the needs.

“We have some projects that have actually big needs for volunteers,” Kjeldgaard stated, noting some projects have a need for larger numbers of volunteers. Projects such as school sites as well as a river clean-up will require many hands.

Still just shy of the overall goal, the director indicated the importance of having volunteers register prior to the day of. Registration via the website (www.loveoakdale.com) is not only easy but informative, as volunteers can pick their specific project utilizing information such as difficulty, accessibility as well as family friendly. The event will kick off Saturday, April 29 promptly at 8 a.m. at the Skate Park. From there volunteers will be checked in and given direction.

“We love for families to come. On our website it literally says which projects are family friendly,” she said.

It’s an effort that has been successful for quite some time.

“There’s been some phenomenal people throughout the years that have led Love Oakdale,” Kjeldgaard noted of prior leadership, adding the buy in from the community by way of financial support as well as volunteering being instrumental.

“It’s just an incredible opportunity to build a sense of community, while serving. We all find joy while serving,” she stated.

The “buy in” she speaks of is equally important from her team of lead volunteers prior to, as well as donors. Giving special mention to community members and the Love Oakdale Support team: Amy Velasco, Joanna Sanders, Lupe Aguilera, Savannah Sprague and Ellie Hoekstra.

While the list of donors on the website is impressive, Kjeldgaard noted for the 2023 year three donors; Gilton Solid Waste, ConAgra and River Bend Ranch have made contributions at the highest level to date.

Yet the reach and work of Love Oakdale does not stop on April 29, 2023. Demonstrating its true non-profit foundation on Saturday, May 6, the new Oakdale Morning Market will launch its first season, opening on North Third Avenue. The weekly event is a project of Love Oakdale and will be hosted each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. through Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.

“Roxanne has done untold amount of work in communicating with all the vendors,” Kjeldgaard said of long-time hair stylist/business owner and now Oakdale Morning Market Manager, Roxanne Simons. “This would not be happening without her vision, first of all, to make it happen. Secondly just the umpteen hours that she has put in communicating with all these vendors.”

Kjedlgaard and Simons shared a story of Simons pitching the idea to the Love Oakdale Director in early fall of 2022. A farmers market fan herself, Simons shared she felt the community was ready for a Saturday morning market.

“I just thought a Saturday one would be really good. I just thought it was time for our town,” Simons shared, adding thoughts and feelings of being part of the solution not the problem, she was more than happy to help make it happen.

“We have the people that will support it if it’s a good one,” she added.

Through the efforts of Simons, the Oakdale Morning Market has connections with 156 vendors who have applied. The idea, as well as intention, will be to host a few food truck vendors, as well as rotate in a variety from the 156 each week. Vendors will be providing produce, meat, eggs, bread and a variety of other food as well as fun items to give the market diversity.

“Every time you come to the market, you’ll see something fresh,” Kjeldgaard said of Simons’ mastery rotating the vendors through to keep a variety for shoppers.

“I want to create a place that everybody wants to come and just build community. It’s multifaceted,” she continued. “I think it is going to be a great place to come. We have great music lined up every week. We have drop-in classes for kids every week. We want it to be family friendly. Saturday morning seems to be filling a niche. Third Avenue is beautiful and we’re excited to be down there.”

As she looks ahead a couple of weeks to the vision becoming a reality, Simons shared she’s excited for the community to not just have an opportunity to get out and start their Saturday with such a welcoming community event, but to meet their grocery needs at the Morning Market.

“This is not a one-person gig for sure,” Simons said of the team and coordination of the pieces and parts to bring the Oakdale Morning Market together. “Anybody who thinks that they can come in here and do it, just one person, hats off to you.”

The weekly event will be multi-faceted due largely in part to the team supporting the vision, which includes: Chris Farris, Yvonne Duenas, Lynn Sarrade and social media marketing support from Mindi VanTil.

“It’s a fundraiser for Love Oakdale,” Kjeldgaard said of proceeds earned from the event. “The primary goal is to create a place in Oakdale for people to be. Secondly to encourage its youth entrepreneurs. Third to give a venue to businesses who are operating out of their home kitchen a place to sell regularly in town.”

Looking ahead of what’s to come in the coming weeks, as well as what the team has prepared for the community, both women bubble with excitement.

“We’re excited. There’s a little bit of nervousness, but I feel like it’s going to be so good,” Simons said.

“I’m very excited. I’m very tired,” Kjeldgaard acknowledged as the two events merge together, likening the event to when her family once hosted a charity carnival on their ranch and the excitement she felt when the flags would go up.

“It was always just so rewarding to see it come to fruition,” she shared, choking back emotion. “I cannot wait to be standing on Third Avenue and see those vendors there and see the street that so many worked so hard on. The businesses endured so much. I just am so excited to bring our community down there and celebrate being part of Oakdale.”

For more information, to be a sponsor or simply see what’s up and coming at the Morning Market, visit www.oakdalemorningmarket.com