NewtonSERVES 2013: Dates to Remember

Updated 8:05 p.m.

Looking to make a difference in the Newton community this spring? Well, your chance is here: volunteer registration for NewtonSERVES is now open.

The 2013 NewtonSERVES will be held on Sunday, April 28 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., rain or shine.

Sponsored by Newton Community Pride, Cambridge Savings Bank, Mayor's Office for Cultural Affairs and the Newton Parks & Recreation Department, NewtonSERVES brings together volunteers, local non-profits, community groups and city departments to complete projects like planting gardens, building school bookshelves and cleaning up parks. 

Project registration opened back in February, and local organizations/non-profits can submit project requests until Friday, April 19. 

Here are some important dates to note for this year's NewtonSERVES:

• Monday, April 1: Volunteer registration for NewtonSERVES is OPEN - Volunteers can register online or call 617-527-8283. Volunteers can choose morning, afternoon or day-long projects to participate in during this year's day of service on Sunday, April, 28, 2013. The projects will be set up across the city at local parks, schools, libraries, and other non-profit, city, and neighborhood locations. Participants will receive t-shirts, snacks and ice cream.

• Friday, April 19: Last day to register your volunteer project - Do you have some work that could use a few volunteers? Projects can be registered online or by calling 617-527-8283. Each project must be organized by a Newton non-profit, community service agency, city department, or a group of citizens (e.g., neighbors cleaning up a park). No businesses or political action groups.

• Thursday, April 25: Last day for volunteers to register in advance for NewtonSERVES - Registration will be available the day of NewtonSERVES at Newton City Hall between 8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. for morning projects and noon - 12:30 p.m. for afternoon projects.

• Sunday, April 28: NewtonSERVES Annual Day of Service - Volunteers will participate at more than 50 projects across the city. Opening ceremonies start at 9 a.m. at City Hall and closing ceremonies will be held in the War Memorial Auditorium at 3:30 p.m. Cabot's will provide ice cream sundaes for all participants at the closing ceremonies.

According to a press release issued in February, last year's NewtonSERVES consisted of more than 60 projects and involved 1,000 volunteers across the city. 

“NewtonSERVES is one of the city’s most important events because it embraces all 13 villages, knitting us into one community," Newton Community Pride President Ruth Barnett said in the press release. "It is events like this one that make people want to move to Newton, to raise their children here."

Information provided by NewtonSERVES. Questions? Visit the NewtonSERVES website, call 617-527-8283 or email NewtonSERVES@newtoncommunitypride.org.

Correction: An earlier version of this article had a typo; the correct time for NewtonSERVES is April 28 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.