Take Part In Community That Cares

MILPITAS, CA -- Time to pitch in before the summer. The largest community service event in and for Milpitas returns March 8 to 17, when hundreds of volunteers will complete vital service projects for area schools, parks and recreation centers throughout the city.

Volunteers choose their pet project by visiting www.MilpitasCares.org. Site project coordinators can field questions on any details for the project.

“Milpitas Cares represents what it is that makes our Milpitas community unique. We are a city and
school district that is strengthened by the work of many to support every student in our schools.
The Milpitas Cares network of caring individuals who come together to volunteer their Saturday time for our students and staff are true leaders in our community. These leaders are integral to our mission in building a culture of "we" for the sake of our children. And for that, we are grateful," said Cheryl Jordan, superintendent of the Milpitas Unified School District.

The impact of Milpitas Cares has been far reaching. Over the last 6 years, Milpitas Cares has completed hundreds of service projects at virtually every school, park, recreation area and for community service groups in town. Last year, 433 volunteers took part.

There's even been collection drives in which coats, sweaters and blankets have been provided for those in need. Plus, every year, the organization runs a collection for the Milpitas Food Pantry.

More information may be obtained by visiting www.MilpitasCares.org.

This year’s projects will include a dozen event sites. Here's a sampling of last year's endeavors:

• Calaveras Hills High School: Created a garden and student sitting area, along with a stone walkway. Packed books to move a classroom. Built wooden benches and added plants to an existing garden. Rejuvenated a lunch area for students, transforming it into a community garden. Built an 8 foot-wide planter box and cleared weeds.
• City Parks: Every year, there's a cleanup at several of the parks and recreation centers around the city. Picked up trash, removed staples and postings, cleaned picnic tables and light poles. Bigger projects include repainting the snack shack at the Sports Park and power washing the city’s tennis courts.
• Milpitas Food Pantry: Constructed shelves, racks and displays for food items. Donated, sorted and stocked the pantry with a wide variety of food items.
• Milpitas High School: Performed a beautification of the Milpitas High School campus, including the adding of wood chips in the front of the school.
• Neighborhood Cleanup: Every year, Milpitas Cares and the Milpitas Community Advisory Commission pick a neighborhood to make landscape improvements, weed and remove trash.
• Rancho Middle School: Removed storage materials from school lockers as well as helped teachers and administrators box up educational materials. Cleaned cupboards, washed inside windows. Completed construction of benches and picnic tables. Created a useable space for teachers to lounge, barbecue and enjoy.

--Image courtesy of Milpitas Cares