Three Great Projects,

One Great Day!

Getting ready to volunteer!

This was Hands On Twin Cities third annual Hands on Twin Cities Day, and it was an amazing success!

Over 150 volunteers worked to beautify and to environmentally protect and educate our communities by volunteering for one of three projects.  A group of over eighty volunteers moved large piles of buckthorn at Indian Mounds Park removing that invasive species to make room for the National Park Service and the St. Paul Parks and Recreation department to renew the native prairie species to that park.  A second group of about thirty volunteers worked with the Friends of the Mississippi River stenciling “Please Do Not Pollute” on street corners of St. Paul to remind people not to drop trash in storm drains which lead to the Mississippi River.  And, the third group of about forty volunteers worked with the Neighborhood Involvement Program which helps seniors remain independent and living in their homes by organizing yard work and outdoor chore opportunities in north Minneapolis. 

Many of the volunteers came from several of our sponsors including:

Read on to learn more about the individual service projects and how one day of volunteerism can make a big difference.

Beautiful Weather to Remove Buckthron!

Buckthorn Removal at Indian Mounds Park

Over 80 Volunteers outfitted in work gloves and safety glasses hauled pre-ct buckthorn to gathering sites where it will be chipped and removed. Buckthorn, a fast-growing invasive species, has taken over several areas of the park. Volunteers were able to clear the majority of the pre-cut buckthorn that day!

They also walked away with education about the history of the sacred burial grounds at Indian Mounds Park and learned how to identify native species thanks to the knowledgeable projects leaders from the National Park Service, St. Paul Parks and Recreation and the Minnesota Conservation Corps.

One volunteer said, "We are STILL talking about what a great experience we had. It was very organized with all the snacks, beverages, work gloves, bug spray, etc! We met some great people too! I will definitely round up a team with my husband and daughter for next year's Hands on Twin Cities Day!"

Stenciling some fun in St. Paul!

Friends of the Mississippi River

The storm drain stenciling project took place near and around the Prosperity Recreation Center in St. Paul.  Four teams of volunteers fanned out to stencil storm drains, pick up trash in the streets and to inform people about not dropping items into the storm drains by giving out literature on the importance of keeping the storm drain areas clean and clear. 

We had corporate representation from Accenture, UnitedHealth Group, RBC Wealth Management, Target, and Blue Cross Blue Shield at this project working side by side with a variety of young people, collegiates and community volunteers.  We also had a grandmother who volunteered with three of her granddaughters.  The youngest of the granddaughter’s shared a concern of pollution in the streets, upon hearing that the grandmother asked the granddaughters if they would like to volunteer at Hands On Twin Cities Day because we were offering a volunteer project on reducing water pollution – they gave the grandmother an enthusiastic “yes.”

Getting down to work in Minneapolis!

Neighborhood Involvement Program

Over 30 volunteers gathered at the Center for Families in North Minneapolis, ready to get their hands dirty and assist seniors with yard work to help them remain independent in their homes. Volunteers raked, weeded, cleaned and had a chance to get to know the homeowners. After three hours of hard work, volunteers returned to the Center for Families tired, but happy with the work they had done.

Several teams of volunteers even asked how they could continue to help in the future! Many thanks to Neighborhood Involvement Program for setting up such a great volunteer opportunity, and of course, our wonderful volunteers at this year’s Hands On Twin Cities Day!

This project received incredibly positive reactions; with many volunteers enthusiastically voicing their opinion of the day and how their appreciation of the area improved. One volunteer stated the neighborhood was full of “very nice people and great gardeners” adding to what another volunteer said, “I thought it was a really wholesome and caring community.”

Hands On Twin Cities Day 2008 is presented by:

with the generous support of