"Fountain Hills Make a Difference Day Really Made a Difference!"
Over 175 volunteers gathered last Saturday, October 22nd, to serve their neighbor through 21 work projects throughout the town. Rotted fences and gates were replaced with secure and safe ones; wheelchair threshold ramps were built where residents couldn't leave their home; holes in stucco sides of homes were patched; skylights where water leaked in and grew mold were sealed; walls were cleaned and painted; lots and lots of landscaping debris was cleaned up and cleared and delivered to the 40-yard dumpster provided by Allied, flowers and plants were planted in Fountain Park (even this weekend, October 29th, we have 50 members of the Church of Latter Day Saints from Scottsdale and Fountain Hills providing trail maintenance on the Overlook Trail as part of a make a Difference Day 2!) trees were trimmed at the elementary school; weeds were cut and cleared at the high school; floor tiles were cleaned as was carpeting along with screens, windows, and furniture; air filters and dead batteries were replaced and much more!
The recipients of these volunteer services are people who live in Fountain Hills and have felt isolated and embarrassed by their living conditions, who have felt forgotten and lonely, who are limited by so many things...health, finances, lack of relatives and friends, lack of transportation, and medicine. Through Make a Difference Day they felt the care and pride of being part of a community that came together to assist them. What many of them have expressed is appreciation for everything- the volunteers, the town, the huge difference and motivation they feel now and also for volunteers listening to them and really hearing what they have to say, for them feel that they do matter. For truly being their neighbor.
Please know that there are still walls to be patched and painted, fences to be nailed, termites and rodents to be dealt with...the real make a difference starts now in how the town works hand in hand with clubs and organizations and the faith community and all residents to continue to reach out and serve.