Coventry, West Warwick Need Volunteers To Take Care Of Cemeteries

COVENTRY, RI — Coventry and West Warwick residents are needed to help clean and restore local cemeteries.

The Pawtuxet Valley Preservation and Historical Society of West Warwick, RI has a historical cemetery preservation program. It aims to preserve and restore cemeteries and burial sites deemed historically significant in the Pawtuxet Valley region and to educate the public of such with perpetual conservancy in mind and policy.

There are more than 250 burial sites/cemeteries throughout the towns of West Warwick and Coventry; most needing periodic attention. West Warwick crews periodically mow and cut the vegetation in about 40 burial lots, while Coventry has 42 (out of about 200) perpetual care cemeteries in which a contracted landscaper mows the vegetation growth.

That leaves about 160 burial sites at cemeteries in Coventry (and several in West Warwick) that require periodic care from volunteers.

"We need committed people to conduct raking and light (if any) cutting of vegetation during the spring and fall," Charles Vacca from the preservation society said. "We will not require anybody to handle fallen trees/branches or any monument preservation work. Instead, those volunteers may contact us to perform such duties."

If interested, contact the Pawtuxet Valley Preservation and Historical Society Cemetery Group at 401-523-5351 or charlesmvacca@gmail.com and identify the cemetery by address or number that you would be interested in helping with.

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