The 25th anniversary of Make a Difference Day also happens to be the 25th anniversary of Clark Public Utilities’ volunteer program StreamTeam.
It’s a “happy coincidence” that both began in 1992, said Ashley King, StreamTeam program coordinator. StreamTeam started out primarily with the utility company’s employees volunteering on weekends and then grew as the team got involved with Americorps and the broader community.
“Now we plant around 50,000 trees every year,” King said, adding that the group focuses on areas along Salmon Creek and the East Fork of the Lewis River. “The idea is that they protect water quality and air quality.”
StreamTeam’s annual tree planting for Make a Difference Day typically draws at least 200 volunteers. It’s one of several events happening Saturday for Make a Difference Day, one of the largest national days of service that falls on the fourth Saturday in October every year.
The day’s volunteer opportunities are all outside. While the forecast calls for sunny skies, people should wear clothing appropriate for working outside, namely long pants and closed-toe shoes.
Participants younger than 18 and their parents will need to fill out minor consent forms. More info and links for most of these events can be found online at www.cityofvancouver.us/MADD.
• StreamTeam’s annual tree planting happening 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be held in Battle Ground. Volunteers will get T-shirts and lunch and get to enjoy live music and entertainment from a juggler. If conditions allow, Northwest Wild Fish Rescue will release fish into the stream. Those interested in participating should email streamteam@clarkpud.com or call 360-992-8585.
• Between 10 a.m. and noon, volunteers will pick up litter, remove invasive plants, spread mulch and clean play equipment at LeRoy Haagen Memorial Park, located at Northeast Ninth Street west of Northeast 136th Avenue. To get more info and sign up to volunteer email cityvolunteer@cityofvancouver.us or call 360-487-8344.
• The Butt Stops Here focuses on cleaning up cigarette butts and other litter from local parks. Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. at Luke Jensen Sports Park, located at 4000 N.E. 78th St., upstairs in the Bud Van Cleve Community Room. Volunteers will disperse to various parks and return to Luke Jensen at 11:30 a.m. for lunch provided by Blind Onion Pizza. Questions should be directed to volunteer program coordinators Karen Llewellyn at 360-397-6118, ext. 1627 or karen.llewellyn@clark.wa.gov; or Hailey Heath at 360-487-8316 or hailey.heath@cityofvancouver.us.
• Vancouver Watersheds Alliance will plant trees and shrubs along Burnt Bridge Creek to improve the habitat and water quality. Volunteers should meet at the Leverich Park shelter, at East 39th Street and East Leverich Park Way, at 9 a.m. They’ll get snacks and then walk to the planting area. The project ends at noon.
• Washington Trails Association, the city of Vancouver and volunteers will be building a new loop trail through Raymond E. Shaffer Park, a new park under development at 7806 N.E. 58th St. It’s recommended that volunteers bring glasses, sunglasses or safety glasses to the project happening between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Volunteers will get snacks and refreshments. Contact the trails association at volunteer@wta.org or 206-625-1367 to get more information and sign up to volunteer.
• Uptown Village will have its annual cleanup and presentation of the Ryan Woods Grassroots Community Award. Volunteers will meet in front of the Ryan Woods mural at 1919 Main St. at 9 a.m. Mayor Tim Leavitt will present the award and dedicate a street tree. Then, volunteers will disperse on several projects, such as cleaning tree wells, adding bark to tree wells, raking leave, clearing up Respect Park, clearing storm drains and picking up trash until noon. Foode will provide coffee and cocoa for volunteers.
• The Clark County Food Bank will harvest carrots at the 78th Street Heritage Farm from noon to 3 p.m. Contact Piper Krabbenhoft, local produce coordinator, at piper.krabbenhoft@clarkcountyfoodbank.org or 360-693-0939 to sign up to volunteer.
