In fields of gold

Day of Service involves yard work, planting for volunteers at St. Joseph Center

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a traditional Day of Service. On Monday, several organizations invited volunteers to celebrate King’s birthday as “a day on, not off.”

About 100 volunteers gathered at St. Joseph Center of Arkansas in North Little Rock for a Day of Service.

The event, hosted by the center and Full Circle Farmcorps, a program of AmeriCorps, was a chance for volunteers to work on the historic grounds of the former St. Joseph Orphanage, clearing and cleaning vegetable gardens for spring, planting a large blackberry patch, cleaning brush and burning brush piles. Another project was clearing a parcel of land, across the street from the Center, that will be used as access to a new Bus Stop Garden.

Before volunteers grabbed their rakes, shovels and loppers, they were welcomed by the center’s executive director, Sandra DeCoursey. She introduced guest speaker Dr. Arnessa Bennett, special projects director for the City of North Little Rock.

As a representative of North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick, Bennett thanked the volunteers and told them how important their work was. She concluded her remarks with a quote from King saying, “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your objects and your verbs agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.”

Also speaking were A.B. Stewart, program director for the FarmCorps, and Katie Matthews, a team leader with FarmCorps.

“Everyone can be great because anybody can serve.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center challenged kids and teens to sign up Monday for a half day of service at a local organization. Cards with the photos and biographies of prominent Black leaders were laid out on a table in one of the center’s galleries. Children made their pledges on the back of the cards.

Across the street from the center on Ninth Street, members of the the Arkansas Jazz Heritage Foundation picked up trash as part of a beautification program.

Master gardener and volunteer Bill Towland speaks to volunteers about their assignments.

Executive director Sandy DeCoursey talks to volunteers about their tasks.

A.B. Stewart, program director of Full Circle FarmCorps, chalks the slogan “Dig in for food” in front of St. Joseph Center.

Master gardener and volunteer Bill Towland lights a brush pile.

Girl Scout Zariah Bingham helps clear a garden for planting.

Michael Angtuaco helps rake the grounds of St. Joseph Center.

Dr. Arnessa Bennett

Haley Gilliam with a tray of blackberry transplants

Chris Orr prepares to plant blackberries.

James Thomson, Melissa Woods and Helena-West Helena Circuit Judge Chalk Mitchell with the Arkansas Jazz Heritage Foundation pick up trash on Ninth Street.

Kaiden and Konnor Parker sign a card with the help of their mother Justina Parker at the Mosaic Templars.

Katie Matthews, Stephen Booth and Robyn Dudrick at St. Joseph Center

Heidi Doolittle (center) with her kids Noah and Addison at St. Joseph Center

Zac and Paige Cook with their children Max and Isabella at St. Joseph Center

Patrice O’Donoghue, Joy Wasson and Fisher DeClerk at St. Joseph Center

Nancy Eddy and Sandra Scoggin at St. Joseph Center

Dr. Arnessa and Larry Bennett at St. Joseph Center

Darryl Copeland and V.L. Cox at St. Joseph Center

Evelyn Ho and Ethan Tan at St. Joseph Center