Volunteers refreshed the pathways at The Garden at St. Timothy’s with a thick layer of donated bark. Left to right: Jason Miller, Carson Nako, Jaxon Nako, Karam Singh, and Dan Ence. Photo by Cindy Scott

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - After several years of fairground and high school projects, Volunteer Day expanded its reach of beautification projects to two off-site locations. First, volunteers cleaned up the planters around the Gridley post office, weeding and cutting ivy down from the walls and trees. Linda Sutherland, postmaster, said, “I want people to feel good when they come here. The customers are already saying it looks great.” She added, “What a community — it makes me want to help and give back.”

Marianne Lombardi, of Quota Club, and her husband Ed worked in the rose garden near Jake’s. Photo by Cindy Scott

Volunteers also enjoyed completing several projects at the garden at St. Timothy’s: a large pile of bark was spread on the walkways between the garden beds, the frame for the greenhouse was primed, and the garden’s own compost was spread into the beds. Grace Mahannah, garden co-director, was on-site to guide the work, as well as several gardeners.

Other projects included: a new fence on the street side of the arena, cleanup along the road to the GHS baseball fields, painting the arena crash wall, repainting parking lines, pressure-washing the floor of Jake’s, sewing new fair banners, and painting the antique tractor implements outside Jake’s.

This year’s groups included VFW, Quota Club, GHS Interact Club, Las Plumas FFA, Lions, 4-H groups, Chico State College of Agriculture, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Butte County Sheriff’s crew is always on hand, this year with 11 hard workers to weed-eat the tall weeds in the fair’s Bone Yard and arena areas.

Youth and adults from several groups painted the greenhouse frame at The Garden at St. Timothy’s. Photo by Cindy Scott

Bill’s Quality Fencing, ButteWxSpotter, and Yuba City Grange Co-op were the supporting businesses. Jordan Land, youth & community outreach coordinator for Grange Co-op, traveled from their business office in White City, Oregon. He was there with Nick Nuxoll and Brian Shoquist from their Yuba City store. They were impressed with the community engagement reflected in the volunteers. Land hopes to create a similar event in White City.

Maria Rudd and her grandson, Hunter Evans, swept the tables and benches at the Concession Stand. Hunter was the youngest volunteer, at three years old. Photo by Cindy Scott

Volunteer Day is a family-friendly event, and this year many children and youth attended. The youngest was Hunter Evans, three years old, who helped clean the colorful round tables at the Concession Stand. The most senior was Norris Anderson from VFW, who helped paint the power boxes outside Butte Hall. All in all, over 200 volunteers worked side-by-side and then gathered for the BBQ.

If you have a community beautification project you would like to see added to next year’s Volunteer Day, please contact the Butte County Fair office at 530-846-3626.