Celebrating two decades of service to the Pleasant Hill community
PLEASANT HILL, CA (Sept. 14, 2024) — One of the things I really love about Pleasant Hill is that our residents care about their city and their neighbors. That fact is never more evident than during the annual Community Service Day.
It’s a rite of passage where the community comes together to take on projects, beautifying, repairing, and cleaning parks, schools and homes. This month’s event is special, as this is the 20th Community Service Day. Back in 2005, then Councilmember Michael Harris and the members of the Civic Action Commission had the idea to bring people together for a day of service.
They amassed a list of projects, then sought out volunteers to help. Everyone got together on a sunny day in Pleasant Hill Park and headed out to take on the Day of Service.
Since that time, this has become a well-loved annual tradition. Thousands of residents have given up their time to work on hundreds of projects that included: repainting the restrooms at Pleasant Hill Park, fixing bicycles to be re-homed to underprivileged families, tending to the plants at the Pleasant Hill Instructional Garden, and removing trash and debris from our area waterways.
Pandemic action
During the COVID pandemic, when people were being asked to stay home, this event lived on. Rather than projects that involved gathering together, the city organized a mass food drive.
Neighborhood captains helped collect food donations, which were then taken to the Food Bank. We gathered 11 tons of food that year, as residents continued our tradition of service during that once-in-a-lifetime pandemic.
20th anniversary
This September, we have several events to recognize and honor the 20th anniversary. As a way of giving back, the Civic Action Commission partnered with the American Red Cross to hold a blood drive at City Hall on Sept. 5.
Then at the Sept. 9 City Council meeting, I had the pleasure to read a proclamation honoring Community Service Day, with former Councilmember Harris and members of the commission in attendance.
Now that we are nearing the day, we intend to celebrate this 20-year milestone in style. On Friday, Sept. 20, the Civic Action Commission is throwing a Party in the Park. Come join the fun 6-8 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Park, 147 Gregory Lane. There will be food trucks, an exhibit chronicling the history of Community Service Day, lawn games, snow cones, speakers and a DJ. Volunteers can pick up their complimentary T-shirts and meet their project teams.
Then, on Saturday, Sept. 21, Community Service Day starts at 7:30 a.m. at Pleasant Hill Park with a hearty breakfast provided by the Lions Club. After breakfast, teams head out to complete their projects from 9 a.m. to noon.
Donations
For those unable to help on Sept. 21, there is still a way to be part of things. You can donate to a citywide food drive benefiting the Food Bank of Contra Costa/Solano County. The city is partnering with the food bank and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) to fill a County Connection bus full of food.
You can bring your donation to the bus either during the Party in the Park or during Community Service Day. A team of volunteers will also be driving through the city on Sept. 21 to pick up donations. You can fill out an online form so volunteers know where to pick up your donation. Both the list of food items sought and the online form for donation pickup are on the city’s website at www.phillca.gov/csd.
I hope you’ll come out and join the fun on Sept. 20-21 and help us make this another great celebration of Community Service Day.