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ST. PETERSBURG
Looking for something positive to do Saturday? Join the 1,000-plus volunteers from churches, neighborhood associations, sororities, fraternities and businesses who will take to the streets and parks during CareFest 2009.
Volunteers will meet at Dell Holmes Park before heading to more than 50 sites throughout the city to clean up and plant trees in public parks, and do painting, minor home repairs and yard work for those in need. Participants will also provide mentoring for children at a foster home.
"These projects are so unique and diverse that anybody and everybody can get involved," said Philip Harris, the city's CareFest coordinator.
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The event started in Tampa in 2001 and has grown to a regional effort involving dozens of Florida cities. CareFest is hosted locally by Somebody Cares Tampa Bay, a faith-based organization.
St. Petersburg's CareFest 2009 has been funded by about $18,000 worth of donations from individuals and local businesses.
This year's event promises to be the city's biggest to date. About 1,300 volunteers from 72 groups and businesses had registered as of Monday.
"I think this year with the economy as tough as it is, a lot of people want to come out and help someone in need. It makes them feel good to give back," Harris said.
While many of the groups involved are faith- based, all are encouraged to participate. Individual volunteers can register at 7 a.m. Saturday at Dell Holmes Park.
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City staffers have helped to determine the sites to benefit from the effort. They include the homes of elderly or disabled people, public buildings in need of paint and repair, like Melrose Elementary School, and public parks and waterways, like Clam Bayou Nature Preserve, that need general cleanup and landscaping.
There will also be a general cleanup and beautification effort made in the Wildwood Heights Neighborhood.
"I've really appreciated the growing partnership we've had with the city," said Pastor Kerm Carlberg of Northside Baptist Church, who has been involved with Somebody Cares Tampa Bay for several years.
Carlberg is co-chairman of this year's CareFest with Harris and commended city officials for their involvement in finding new volunteers and projects for them to tackle.
The high level of cooperation among faith- based organizations, the city and nonprofit groups like Keep Pinellas Beautiful led to St. Petersburg's being named the City of Compassion last year for the high volunteer turnout.
On Saturday, volunteers will be treated to light morning refreshments, cold drinks, lunch and entertainment.
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