West Villages Improvement District: Venice Make a Difference Day wins Savvy Award, This Years Event October 26

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Venice Make a Difference Day wins Savvy Award, This Years Event October 26

This year’s citywide cleanup event is set for Saturday, Oct. 26

The city of Venice has won a 3CMA

(City-County Communications & Marketing Association) Savvy Award of

Excellence for Special Events — Recurring Event (Population 0-99,000) for its

Make A Difference Day last October.

Organized by the city’s public works department and Jim Foubister with Serve Florida, the event is a day of community service for volunteers of all ages. During the sixth annual event in 2018, a record number of 447 volunteers landscaped, raked, cleaned, mulched, collected litter and put together picnic tables, among other duties, at more than 20 parks and greenspace areas in the city. This community service effort saves thousands of dollars annually and benefits the local environment.

Judging comments for the award: “I loved getting to see how the city involved its community to improve and beautify its parks. A great way to engage residents to care for their city!”

This year’s event will include landscaping, raking, cleaning, painting and litter collection events at more than 30 city parks and beaches.

Jim Foubister with Serve Florida is the chief organizer of the event, with assistance from city public works staff. Volunteers will enjoy a complimentary lunch at noon at Maxine Barritt Park, 1800 Harbor Dr. S. This year, there will be a special focus on cleaning up the coast and improving water quality. This coastal initiative is being supported by The Recycling Partnership, a national nonprofit that puts private dollars to work, helping communities invest in recycling systems and empowering residents to take sustainable action. This effort with The Recycling Partnership is part of continued work that will be taking place to transform recycling for good in the city.

For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, go to Serve Florida’s website at http://www.servfl.com and click on the green “Help Now” button or call Mr. Foubister at 941-223-1771. Interested volunteers can also come to the Venice Community Center, 326 S. Nokomis Ave. at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 26 to help. Drive to the south side of the building near Turin St. to receive assignments and a T-shirt. Volunteers should wear old, comfortable clothing and work shoes, and bring sunscreen. Other supplies, including drinking water and gloves, will be furnished. ¦

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate