CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Grab a friend, bring your family and help beautify the communities of Fair Oaks, Citrus Heights and Orangevale together during the seventh annual Big Day of Service (BDOS) on May 17.

Volunteer registration is open for 10 different projects in the city of Citrus Heights during the Big Day of Service. This is a one-day multi-community event in which the public is invited to help make their local community beautiful. It is the first year of participation for the city of Citrus Heights.

Citrus Heights communications officer Marisa Brown provided a summary list of the individual projects taking place in Citrus Heights and the number of volunteers needed for each project.

In all, 50 to 60 projects will be available for community volunteers during the Big Day of Service.

There’s plenty of impact projects to volunteer for with opportunities to paint spaces at local schools, complete garden clean-up projects, play board games with senior citizens, make care kits for deployed military, craft blankets for children in need, write encouragement cards for shut-in neighbors or help with a grocery store food drive, just to name a few.

“Each individual project is identified by number and their location,” Brown said. “Information about each will be updated regularly as the event draws closer,” said Brown. “There’s an opportunity for everyone of all ages to get involved and a project certain to match their interest and skills.”

The seventh annual Big Day of Service (BDOS) opens at 7:30 a.m. May 17 with a community fair at Bella Vista High School on 8301 Madison Ave., Fair Oaks. Check in, T-shirt pick up and a grab-and-go breakfast are followed by a community rally from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Volunteers will then meet with leaders and head to individual projects from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Early volunteers at 6:30 a.m. are also being sought for the event’s welcome and logistics crew at 6:30 a.m. to help with event set up,T-shirt distribution, breakfast and clean up after the rally.

The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the Rotary clubs of Fair Oaks and Orangevale and the Orangevale-Fair Oaks Community Foundation to bring the inaugural Big Day of Service to the city of Citrus Heights.

“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 projects in our city in which they may want to participate,” Brown said.

Specific projects in Citrus Heights include:

Project number four needs 25 volunteers for the Lichen K-8 Campus Beautification – Lichen School, 6619 Carrwood St. in Citrus Heights. Help enhance landscape and create a welcoming and joyful experience to all visitors/staff/students that visit the campus. Some 30 to 50 plants in a large flowerbed area that runs alongside the security gate in front of the school’s office will be planted.

Project number nine needs 10 volunteers for the Props for Cops: Posters and Cards for the Citrus Heights Police Department. Help show some appreciation for the Citrus Heights Police Department for keeping our city safe. Volunteers will make cards and posters to deliver to police stations at a location to be determined.

Project number 12 needs 30 volunteers for the Mariposa Avenue Elementary Beautification, Mariposa Avenue Elementary School located at 7940 Mariposa Ave. General landscaping help is at Mariposa Avenue Elementary School in the large area in front of the school, the back yard and in the rock garden.

Project number 17 needs 20 volunteers for the Sunrise Christian Food Ministry Improvements at 5901 San Juan Ave. Help freshen up the Sunrise Food Closet. Individual projects include painting offices and the storage room, general clean up and some weeding.

Project number 20 needs 40 volunteers for the Arcade Creek Park Improvements at Arcade Creek Park, 6377 Bonham Circle. Volunteers will restripe parking spaces, repaint Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) logos, spread wood chips and repair entrance driveway.

Project number 23 needs 30 volunteers for the Grand Oaks Elementary Beautification at Grand Oaks Elementary, 7901 Rosswood Drive. Help paint benches, wall ball courts, hallway poles and do some light landscaping.

Project number 26 needs nine volunteers for the Citrus Heights is Hopping: Hopscotch Fun at 8091 Greenback Lane, Suite F. This fun project is led by Sheri Merrick, executive director of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce and encourages volunteers to find several locations throughout the City of Citrus Heights where hopscotch courts could be drawn.

Project number 38 needs 30 volunteers for the Arlington Heights Elementary Beautification. Arlington Heights Elementary School is at 6401 Trenton Way. Remove weeds and general landscaping in large plant areas in front of the school in preparation of tree planting.

Project number 39 needs 24 volunteers for the Rebuild and Paint Tables and Benches at Madera Park, located at 8046 Wonder St. in Citrus Heights. Help Bill Shirley, project leader, repair and paint tables and benches at the park pavilion, replace damaged wood where needed and replace damaged wood on the overhead structure.

Project number 43 needs 15 volunteers for the Carriage Drive Elementary Beautification for Carriage Drive Elementary School at 7519 Carriage Drive. Volunteers will rebuild four large planter boxes and remove trees and weeds.

For more information about the upcoming Big Day of Service on May 17, call 916-238-8868 or email [email protected]. A complete list of the available projects in the combined communities of Citrus Heights, Orangevale and Fair Oaks is listed at serve.bigdayofservice.us/.

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

Additional sponsors include Republic Services, Assemblyman Josh Hoover, Miller’s Ace Hardware and Sacramento County Supervisor Rich Desmond.

Community partners also include Orangevale Recreation and Parks District, Sunrise Recreation and Parks District, the San Juan Unified School District and the Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District.

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