Award Cites Walnut Creek Community Service

The spirit of volunteerism burns brightly in Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill.

Now the whole state knows. The two cities were recognized in statewide awards received by the cities from the League of California Cities in its annual conference in San Diego. The adjacent cities earlier this week received Helen Putnam Awards.

“The bottom-line objective for both of our cities was to create a single-day event that would engage our communities, introduce volunteers to new opportunities, and create lasting impact,” said Walnut Creek Council member Cindy Silva, in a city statement on the Walnut Creek website. “Community Service Day has done just that in its first year in Walnut Creek.”

A year ago Silva, then the mayor, led the initiative for the first Community Service Day. Community Service Day in Walnut Creek this year is Saturday, Oct. 6. The city is now registering volunteers for 50 projects around the community.

Pleasant Hill has staged annual community service days since 2005. Over the years, about 6,000 volunteers have logged 25,000 volunteer hours in Pleasant Hill.

“In both cities, Community Service Day has increased civic pride and demonstrated that people want to get involved and give back to their community," said Pleasant Hill Vice Mayor Michael Harris. "Community Service Day has proven that the power of human energy is unbeatable.”