Jessica Brown, her two daughters and son, all Citrus Heights residents, helped plant a new live oak tree.

 

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The city of Citrus Heights celebrated Earth Day from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 22 with a special volunteer “Chip-In” event that revitalized bark and general landscaping outside the Citrus Heights Police Department headquarters at 6315 Fountain Square Drive.

When the project was completed, some 80 yards of new bark were refreshed and a new tree was planted. 

“The new bark helps with moisture retention and weed suppression in the landscaping around the Citrus Heights Police Department grounds,” said Armando Velasquez in the city’s construction and maintenance department.  Velasquez provided a general safety brief before the project began.

Participating volunteers included many store managers of area Sprouts Farmers Market in the Sacramento region, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and members of the Heights Church.

Volunteers later enjoyed a free pizza lunch when their work was done.

Velasquez welcomed around 40 volunteers, including store managers from Sprouts Farmers Market locations across the Sacramento region, as well as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Heights Church.

Many had registered for the Earth Day event through the city’s online volunteer hub which networks volunteers with opportunities to serve their community, Velasquez said.

The parking lot was soon a buzz of activity as volunteers who had donned yellow safety vests and work gloves quickly got to work.

The city of Citrus Heights celebrated the observance of Earth Day with a special volunteer “Chip-In” event, revitalizing bark and general landscaping outside the Citrus Heights Police Department headquarters.

The operator of a large, wheeled yellow excavator, provided by West Coast Arborists, filled and then dumped hefty buckets of bark in multiple parking area locations just ahead of the waiting volunteers.

Shovelers filled empty wheelbarrows full of bark, which were then deployed throughout the Citrus Heights Police Department parking area.

In mid-morning, following a short rest break, volunteers watched as Jessica Brown, her two daughters and son, all Citrus Heights residents, helped plant a new live oak tree. The Browns each took turns to add soil and compost with their shovels before the new bark was added.

The parking lot was soon a buzz of activity as volunteers who had donned yellow safety vests and work gloves quickly got to work.

“I’m sure they (her children) will remember this very special day,” Brown said.

Volunteers then added new bark to the landscaping beds that face Fountain Square Drive.

“I’m so thankful for all our sponsors and volunteers who turned out to help today,” said Velasquez. 

Event sponsors for the “Chip In” Earth Day event included Advance America, Sprouts Farmers Market, West Coast Arborists and Republic Services.