Stark Parks Invites Families to Volunteer Day

According to the national Points of Light Institute and the HandsOn Network, the Saturday before Thanksgiving--Nov. 19 —will be observed as National Family Volunteer Day.

Stark Parks invites local families to participate in the national observance by picking up trash from several Stark Park trails from 9:30-11 a.m., then come at 11 a.m. to the Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park to receive a certificate of thanks, enjoy a warm beverage, and tour the Congressman Ralph Regula Canalway Center.  The Center includes interactive exhibits aboutStark County history and nature, and visiting the Center is the first step in becoming a “Canalway Explorer,” which lets them earn rewards for participating in park and community activities.

Families who would like to participate in National Family Volunteer Day must pre-register by calling Stark Parks Volunteer Coordinator Cindy Zutavern at 330-409-8993 or by sending her an email at czutavern@starkparks.com. Families may volunteer at the following parks:

• Hoover Park Trail in North Canton;
• Walborn or Deer Creek Reservoirs or the Mahoning Valley Trail north of Alliance;
• Cook’s Lagoon or the Stark Electric Railway Trail in Canton; or
• Along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail that runs through Canal Fulton, Massillon, and Navarre.

“We often get requests from parents looking for volunteer opportunities for their kids or one-time volunteer opportunities for their family,”  said Cindy Zutavern, Volunteer Coordinator for Stark Parks. “We don’t have many volunteer projects for children under age 16, so this National Family Volunteer Day provides that opportunity to actively engage families who want to do community service.” Families are asked to provide their own trash bags and gloves.

Information about the national sponsors is available at www.pointsoflight.org andwww.HandsOnNetwork.org.