On May 17, volunteers will roll up their sleeves to complete community-driven projects right here in Citrus Heights. Photo courtesy of City of Citrus Heights

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with Rotary Clubs of Fair Oaks and Orangevale and the Orangevale-Fair Oaks Community Foundation to bring the first-ever Big Day of Service to the city of Citrus Heights on Saturday, May 17.

The seventh annual Big Day of Service (BDOS) is a one-day multi-community event where the public is invited to help make their local community beautiful.

“We’re especially excited to bring this annual gathering of unity and service to the city of Citrus Heights,” said Sheri Merrick, executive director of the Citrus Heights Chamber. The stated purpose of Big Day of Service is to “inspire generosity, foster volunteerism, and strengthen community connections.”

“Brad Squires, the founder and CEO of the Orangevale Fair Oaks Community Foundation reached out to the Citrus Heights Chamber to ask the city to participate this year,” said Merrick.

The three communities have a goal of 60 significant projects to be completed in a single day with 10 being completed in the city of Citrus Heights. Individual project initiatives which may involve reading to seniors, delivering meals, or other such volunteer efforts, help create opportunities for individuals to positively impact their surroundings, promoting kindness and cooperation.

“Everyone can make a difference, even in a small way during this event. I’m inviting the public to learn more about the BDOS and how they can participate,” said Merrick, adding that plenty of hard work and volunteer coordination is needed in advance of the event to make the upcoming Big Day of Service event a multiple community success.

“The active process of seeking sponsors, coordinating volunteers and obtaining materials to support some 10 individual projects in Citrus Heights has actively begun.” Merrick continued. “We’re starting early to get the word out with sponsoring information and to identify volunteers who may want to be a project lead.”

Caryl Balko, formerly of PRIDE Industries Career Club and a Citrus Heights Chamber ambassador, also serves as event captain.

According to Merrick, a list of projects within the city of Citrus Heights during the Big Day of Service event is still being prepared. Once that list is finalized, volunteers will be able to sign up for a specific project in their local area.

“It’s very early in the process, and nominations for projects for that day are ongoing,” said Merrick. “The public can go to the BDOS website and suggest projects which they feel should be considered.”

Merrick said that they welcome the help and support of individual project sponsors that are needed to fund the cost of supplies for one or multiple Big Day of Service projects.

Planning meetings for the Big Day of Service have started. Merrick said she has met with Meghan Huber, Citrus Heights Economic Development and Community Engagement director, and Marisa Brown, city communications officer, to stay aligned and see how to best integrate Citrus Heights into Big Day of Service.

“We currently have one project in Citrus Heights approved and are collaborating with the chamber to get more ideas submitted by utilizing our combined communication channels,” Brown said.

In 2018, the first annual Big Day of Service, more than 1,000 participants showed up on a single day to tackle 25 community service projects. In 2019, more volunteers tackled over 30 local projects to beautify and improve local neighborhoods. This year, the goal of the Big Day of Service is 50 local projects.

Initial Big Day of Service sponsors include the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks, Orangevale Rotary, Rosario Rodriguez, County Supervisor; Orangevale-Fair Oaks Community Foundation, Sunrise Community Church, Delta Dental, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, SMUD and Helix Electric.

Donations are tax-deductible and contributions can be made to the Community Foundation of Orangevale and Fair Oaks at ovfocf.org/donate.

For more information about the upcoming Big Day of Service on May 17, visit bigdayofservice.us/, call 916-238-8868 or email [email protected].