Volunteers to join in C.O. Earth Month projects

From Prineville to Sisters and Redmond to Bend, volunteers are needed to help our parks, waterways and natural lands. On April 17th and 18th over 200 volunteers across the region will pitch in to pick up litter, plant trees and restore our parks and natural areas.

Now in its 26 th year, SOLVE IT, presented by Portland General Electric, is a statewide event that engages thousands of volunteers every Earth Day. This year, Volunteer Connect has partnered with SOLVE to offer six projects in Central Oregon for volunteers to get involved locally.

Volunteers can find project details and register online at http://www.volunteerconnectnow.org/Volunteer/SOLVE-IT-Central-Oregon/ or call Volunteer Connect at 541-385-8977.

“Central Oregon is an amazing playground for many of us, both inside and outside its urban areas. This event gives locals the chance to roll up their sleeves and give back to the places they love, making a positive difference as stewards of the natural environment,” says Katya Spiecker, Volunteer Connect Program Coordinator.

Volunteers will be making a difference by cleaning up litter, removing non-native invasive plants and maintaining parks and restoration sites at six locations in Central Oregon and over 150 sites across Oregon.

Participating organizations include: Bend Park and Recreation District, City of Redmond, Friends and Neighbors of Deschutes Canyon, Sisters Park and Recreation District, Ochoco National Forest, and Crook County Parks and Recreation District.

About Volunteer Connect

Volunteer Connect is a nonprofit organization that links community members with rewarding volunteer opportunities to enhance Central Oregon. They partner with non-profit and public organizations to recruit and connect volunteers, matching volunteer interests and skills with community needs.

About SOLVE

SOLVE is a statewide non-profit organization that brings people together to improve the environment and build a legacy of stewardship. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model for volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers across Oregon to our clean up beaches and rivers, and restore watersheds. Visit http://www.solveoregon.org/ for more information.